§ 25. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what initiative he intends to take to support the West German Foreign Secretary's proposal that the Oder-Neisse line should be recognised as West Germany's eastern frontier.
§ Mr. George BrownI know of no such proposal.
§ Mrs. ShortI will send a copy to my right hon. Friend. Will he bear in mind the fact that this matter has been awaiting solution for 22 years—ever since the end of the last war? Does not he agree that it is in Britain's long-term and immediate interests that there should be a settlement of this problem?
§ Mr. BrownI do not dispute any of that. We have repeatedly said that it is our view that this must be settled in any peace treaty. All I am saying is that I have no information that the West German Minister made the statement alleged. If my hon. Friend has information on that subject, I shall be glad to look at it.
§ Mr. BlakerDoes the right hon. Gentleman recall that he has already made one faux pas on this subject? Will he be careful not to make another one?
§ Mr. BrownI know exactly what the hon. Gentleman has in mind. If he will look at the matter again, he will find that the situation was not as he described it as being.