HC Deb 16 February 1967 vol 741 cc798-9
Q9. Mr. Marten

asked the Prime Minister when he next proposes to seek to meet the President of the United States of America.

The Prime Minister

I have no present plans for such a meeting, Sir.

Mr. Marten

Does the right hon. Gentleman recall that the electorate expect from him regular and routine summit meetings? It has been rather a long time since he has seen President Johnson. Some of his supporters would, I know, like him to do so. Will he not fix an early date?

The Prime Minister

It is some seven months since I saw the President, and that is about the average in the period since I came to office. I think that before that the average was about once a year, although there were variations between good years and bad. I will certainly inform the hon. Member as soon as anything is arranged.

Mr. Heffer

Will my right hon. Friend arrange an early meeting with the President and inform him of the deep feeling in this country, particularly in this party, about the continuation of bombing of North Vietnam?

The Prime Minister

I dealt with this question on Tuesday. As my hon. Friend will realise, it is not necessary to arrange a specific face-to-face meeting for making any kind of representations to Mr. Johnson because we are in close and constant touch by other media.