§ 25. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what discussions he had during his recent visit to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the need to reassess British policy towards Eastern European countries.
§ Mr. George BrownNone specifically. We talked a great deal about Europe. It is generally recognised that this country has been among the leaders in developing relations with the countries of Eastern 994 Europe, and I know I have my hon. Friend's support in that.
§ Mrs. ShortI assure my right hon. Friend that he certainly has. Does not he think that the time has come for the normalisation of our relations with East Germany, for example? Should not the policy he put forward at the Labour Party Conference in 1961 now be implemented? Does not my right hon. Friend think that there is something wrong with a policy which prevents peace-loving friends from East Germany coming here, when the leader of the West German Nationalists is allowed to come, apparently, to lecture to university students?
§ Mr. BrownI do not know what inhibits peace-loving friends from East Germany coming here more than the existence of the Wall for which they are responsible.
§ Mr. DoughtyWill the right hon. Gentleman collaborate with the right hon. Lady in trying to persuade Eastern European countries to have some form of democracy?
§ Mr. James DavidsonIs it intended to make any official reaction to the Bucharest Declaration of the Warsaw Pact countries last July proposing a conference on European security?
§ Mr. BrownI am rather against, as I have often said, the bloc-to-bloc approach. We have initiated, as my predecessor announced, a proposal for a declaration which countries both east and west of the so-called Curtain may join in and we are pursuing that initiative.