§ Q4. Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Prime Minister if he will state the purpose of his visit to Washington following his attendance at Expo 67 in Montreal.
§ The Prime MinisterFor informal talks with President Johnson, Sir.
§ Mr. GriffithsSince our relations with the United States could prove one of the sticking points in our negotiations to join E.E.C., will the right hon. Gentleman assure the President that, in seeking to join Europe, we have no intention of isolating ourselves from America or of turning our backs on the Far East? Will he also say that it is Britain's intention to make this a first step towards a wider Atlantic community, joining all of Europe with North America?
§ The Prime MinisterI have already discussed the question of Britain's relations with the United States with President Johnson when I met him recently in Bonn. One of the things I found from American leaders is that Anglo-American relations, which the hon. Gentleman has not done much to help recently, are extremely good. Indeed, American leaders told me that the hon. Gentleman in question was not only wrong in what he said but had been told, while in Washington, that he was wrong.
§ Mr. BlakerSince there has been a good deal of discussion in the country recently about Anglo-American relations, would it not be useful if the House had a debate on the subject, perhaps after the Prime Minister returns from his visit to Washington?
§ The Prime MinisterI agree that this is an important issue. The matter of a debate is a question for my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House. I do not know what plans are being discussed for a future foreign affairs debate, but I think that this could form part of it.
§ Mr. GriffithsOn a point of order. In view of the inaccurate and——
§ Mr. GriffithsOn a point of order. I wish to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment of the House.
§ Q5. Mr. Dickensasked the Prime Minister if he proposes to discuss the United Kingdom's defence commitments in South-East Asia with President Johnson during his forthcoming visit to Washington.
§ The Prime MinisterQuestions relating to the security of South-East Asia may well be among those I shall discuss with President Johnson.
§ Mr. DickensThat is welcome news. Will my right hon. Friend accept that he will have the overwhelming support of this side of the House and of the country generally if he is going to tell President Johnson that we intend to give up our rôle in South-East Asia in a military sense by the early 1970s?
§ The Prime MinisterThe subject matter of my hon. Friend's supplementary question is completely hypothetical. I will be discussing with President Johnson, and, I hope shortly, with leaders from Australia and New Zealand, further questions affecting Britain's deployment in the Far East.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeDoes the right hon. Gentleman recall that on several occasions lately I have asked him what steps Her Majesty's Government 1274 are taking 'to give a lead in the reorganisation of the S.E.A.T.O. Treaty and Alliance and that he said on the last occasion that the S.E.A.T.O. Conference was about to take place and that, after that, something might be said? Nothing has been said. Are we to conclude that Her Majesty's Government have taken no lead and are making no proposals?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. The right hon. Gentleman will be aware of what occurred at the S.E.A.T.O. Conference, which was abundantly publicised at the time. The question raised by my hon. Friend is not, I think, one primarily for discussion within the S.E.A.T.O. Conference because, as he no doubt recalls, it is a matter for each individual country to decide what force levels are needed to fulfil their obligations within S.E.A.T.O.
§ Sir Ian Orr-EwingWould not it be unwise to make a unilateral declaration of withdrawal from any of these areas east of Suez in view of the fact that this shakes the confidence of one's allies and friends, and will he desist from this in future?
§ The Prime MinisterI have said that, so far as this area is concerned, we shall have consultations with Australia and the United States. At the end of the day, as my right hon. Friends have made clear on a number of occasions, we must limit our commitments, presence and expenditure to what this country can afford.
§ Mr. HefferWould my right hon. Friend give the House an assurance that he will take the opportunity while he is in Washington to inform President Johnson that we would be bitterly opposed to any further escalation of the war in Vietnam and that the time has come for the Americans to switch their policies in relation to Vietnam because of the obvious movement towards a third world war?
§ The Prime MinisterPresident Johnson is as well aware as anyone of the dangers of escalation in the Far East. This is one of a number of reasons why President Johnson is anxious, as he repeated again a couple of days ago, to get to the conference table if he can find anyone there with whom to talk.