PRIME MINISTER (VISIT TO WASHINGTON) (Hansard, 30 January 1968)

§ Q5. Mr. Eldon Griffiths
asked the Prime Minister what are the purposes of his forthcoming visit to Washington.

§ Q12. Mr. Winnick
asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the purpose of his forthcoming visit to Washington, and the matters which he hopes to discuss with President Johnson.

§ The Prime Minister
The purpose of my visit to Washington is to have a personal exchange of views with the President about the international situation. The House will be glad to know that, in addition to my meetings with President Johnson, I hope also to have discussions in Canada with Mr. Pearson and in New York with U Thant.

§ Mr. Griffiths
In view of the dangerous situation in Korea and the great battle which is now under way in Vietnam, will the Prime Minister assure the President that any American policy which seeks peace by negotiation and which maintains a firm resistance to aggression, on land or on the high seas, will always have the full support of this country?

§ The Prime Minister
Undoubtedly both the Korean and the Vietnam situation will be discussed with the President. We have made clear throughout our support of the President's proposals for peace by negotiation in Vietnam. Indeed, this was the subject of some of my discussions in Moscow last week. With regard to Korea, I think that the situation is best left where it is at the moment—in the Security Council.

§ Mr. Winnick
As long as the war continues, will the Prime Minister express to President Johnson the deep concern felt in Britain at the deliberate American bombing of the civilian population in North Vietnam? Will the Prime Minister continue to press President Johnson to stop the bombing so that talks can begin and we can end this horrifying war?

§ The Prime Minister
I discussed at very great length last week in Moscow, and shall no doubt be discussing again next week in Washington, the precise circumstances in which, following the stopping of the bombing, there could be prompt and meaningful talks. There is now very little between the two sides so far as their public declarations are concerned. However, I think that the Americans have the right to be assured that this action will follow on the cessation of the bombing. I think that the North Vietnamese have the right to he assured that the Americans will stop the bombing if this follows. It therefore needs the friends of both sides to persuade them to cross the very narrow bridge which now separates them.

§ Mr. Maudling
Does the Prime Minister intend to discuss with the President the advisability of the Americans taking over any responsibility in the Gulf or the Far East when we withdraw from east of Suez?

§ The Prime Minister
No; we have no views to put to the President of the United States on that question. We shall, of course, be interested to hear his views on this situation. However, the right hon. Gentleman will not be surprised to know that we have exchanged a number of messages on this question.

§ Mr. Emrys Hughes
When he is in Washington, will the Prime Minister get into contact, not only with the President, but with a very courageous Congressman, George Brown, who has always opposed the stupidity of the Vietnam war? Will the Prime Minister get in touch with the rising volume of public opinion that condemns this war in the interests of the United States of America?

§ The Prime Minister
My hon. Friend will be glad to know that I met the Mr. George Brown in question last autumn. I saw him in Scarborough together with another distinguished Congressman who came over at the same time with him. However, if I am to discuss the Vietnamese question with all Congressmen and Senators who have views to nut forward. I shall not have time for talking to the President.

§ Mr. Blaker
Now that we are to give up our peace-keeping rôle east of Suez, does the Prime Minister feel that British Governments in future will have as much 1092 influence on the formulation of American policy as they sometimes had in the past?

§ The Prime Minister
I think that we will continue to have a very important influence on the formulation of American policy. Over a very large number of years we have had our ups and downs in these matters. The biggest down was 12 years ago. We have very much more influence in these matters now than right hon. Members opposite had then, when they were not even in communication for three months and had to seek an international loan from the Americans through the medium of an American journalist.

§ Mr. Heath
What attitude does the Prime Minister propose to take with the President towards the imposition of export incentives in the United States which will affect our trade?

§ The Prime Minister
I think that the biggest cause for anxiety, as I think that the Leader of the Opposition will agree, is the proposal about border taxes coupled with export rebates. We have already informed the United States Government of our very strong feelings in this matter. I expressed them to Mr. Katzenbach when he was over here recently. The right hon. Gentleman will understand that, if measures of this kind are taken which might have a very bad effect on spiralling world trade downwards, we should have to reserve our position entirely about the withdrawal of the export rebate.

Several Hon. Members rose
——

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. We must proceed.