§ 7. Mr. James Davidsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will seek to establish one or more conciliation committees on which members of the legislative assemblies of all nations which are signatories of the North Atlantic Treaty and of the Warsaw Pact are invited to serve, to discuss means of reducing tension in Europe and progress towards a supranational European community.
§ Mr. MulleyHer Majesty's Government are always ready to consider suggestions for promoting better East/West relations, but I doubt whether this proposal would be practicable in present circumstances.
§ Mr. DavidsonWould the right hon. Gentleman agree that there is a direct link between the war in Vietnam and tension in Europe, and that the establishment of conciliation committees such as I suggest in my Question might lead to the re-establishment of the International Control Commission and a move towards peace in Vietnam?
§ Mr. MulleyI do not dispute the connection of some of the matters mentioned by the hon. Gentleman, but in present circumstances I would not think it likely to get committees of the kind which the hon. Gentleman has in mind. We already have contact with legislative members of Eastern European countries through the I.P.U.