HC Deb 14 November 1967 vol 754 cc218-9
Q6. Mr. Marten

asked the Prime Minister when he proposes to visit Moscow.

The Prime Minister

The date has not yet been arranged, Sir.

Mr. Marten

Does the Prime Minister recall that it is now nine months since he was advised that there were urgent matters awaiting his discussion in Moscow, such as Russian aid to North Vietnam, and Mr. Gerald Brooke? Can the right hon. Gentleman, in the meantime, make it quite clear to Mr. Kosygin that he has no intention of dissociating further from the American fight for freedom in Vietnam?

The Prime Minister

I am aware that it is now nine months since my last meeting with Mr. Kosygin, but I do not think that either of us envisaged that we should get into a kind of commuter relationship with one another. The hon. Gentleman earlier this year expressed some cynicism about the absence of a "hot line". He will be glad to know that it is in operation, and that I have been able to communicate with Mr. Kosygin on certain of the subjects which he has just mentioned. With regard to discussions with Mr. Kosygin about Vietnam, this would, I think, be within the context of my discussions with him last February, which were reported to the House.

Mr. John Fraser

Can my right hon. Friend assure us that the conclusion of the consulate convention with the Russian Government will not have to await his visit to Moscow?

The Prime Minister

My hon. Friend is right. It does not have to wait for a visit of that kind, but there are one or two problems to iron out, and the House will be aware of what my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs said last week about consular access to Gerald Brooke, which is very germane to the signature of this convention.

Sir C. Osborne

Would it not be wiser for the Prime Minister to delay his visit to Moscow until sterling is stronger and he can speak to the Russians from strength, instead of giving the impression that we are the sick man of Europe?

The Prime Minister

We have never had difficulty in speaking from strength to the Soviet Union, and I have never heard of any discussion by the Soviet Government of the subject which is engaging the hon. Gentleman's mind. We usually have some fundamental questions of a political and international character to discuss. I do not think that the question of our present economic situation in any way bears on the fixing of a right date, which one hopes will be a productive date, for the visit to Moscow.