§ Q5. Mr. Murrayasked the Prime Minister what representations he has made to President Johnson and Mr. Kosygin to call a Summit meeting in the near future.
§ The Prime MinisterNone, Sir.
§ Mr. MurrayWould my right hon. Friend reconsider this? Would he consider, in view of the difficulties in reconvening the Geneva Conference on Vietnam, with the co-Chairmen, the possibility of a Summit conference being called to discuss Vietnam?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think that would help in the particular difficulty of trying to get the Geneva Conference recalled. As fellow co-Chairman we have made very many efforts to do that. The President of the United States and the Prime Minister of the Soviet Union met in the summer of last year, without making progress on this. The view of the Soviet Government is that they would be prepared to co-operate in Geneva, or any other agreed place, once the parties to the fighting had agreed to start negotiations. That step must come first in their view.
§ Mr. OnslowIf there were to be such a Summit meeting, does the Prime Minister really expect to be invited?
§ The Prime MinisterI was answering the question, the terms of which suggested that I took an initiative. Despite all the warnings that we had from hon. and right hon. Gentlemen opposite about the top table, I am not at all dissatisfied about the meetings that I have had in the Soviet Union and in Washington in the past few weeks and with the continuing contacts with leaders of both countries on the Vietnam question.