HC Deb 07 November 1968 vol 772 cc1076-8
Q7. Mr. Molloy

asked the Prime Minister when he plans to have a meeting with the newly-elected President of the United States of America.

The Prime Minister

I think that this question is a little premature but I look forward to regular and close contacts with the next President of the United States of America on all matters of interest and concern to both our countries and on wider world issues.

Mr. Molloy

I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply, but I think I can reasonably assume that at some time there will be a meeting with the President-Elect, so would he not confirm the admirable sentiment of the Foreign Secretary of the urgent need now for United States recognition of the right of China to a place at the United Nations, and, at some time, when my right hon. Friend does meet the President-Elect, would he press for a summit conference where great issues of world peace can be discussed?

The Prime Minister

There is no change at all in the position of the Government on the question of the seating of China at the United Nations and the recognition of China, and on all other of those questions. I am sure our views on these are already well known to the President-Elect. With regard to a meeting with him, I think it is too early to make any suggestion. I have seen Press reports that he may be visiting Europe. I do not know. But he would be very welcome to Britain if he were to visit Europe. I am sure everyone recognises, now that the fury of the election campaign is over and the decision has been taken, the tremendous tasks the new President will be facing, and I am sure that all hon. Members will wish him every success in dealing with those tasks.

Mr. Bessell

In view of the statement made today that the President-Elect may be visiting Moscow, would the right hon. Gentleman consider it appropriate to issue a special invitation to Mr. Nixon to visit this country?

The Prime Minister

It is not for me to speculate on what, so far as I am aware, are only newspaper reports about the President-Elect's plans. I should have thought, with our experience of election campaigns in the past, that the House would feel that the President-Elect will want to catch up on some sleep before he enters into consultations with us or anyone else, and that when he has done so then will be the time to consider whether there is any prospect of the President-Elect visiting Europe. If there is, as I say, he will, as I am sure the whole House will agree, be very welcome here.

Mr. Ridsdale

Before the Prime Minister visits the President will he do something more to strengthen our defences, in view of the misappreciation by the Government of Russian intentions?

The Prime Minister

The hon. Gentleman is of course entitled to his view about this matter. It is not a view which is shared by Her Majesty's Government who have responsibility for the defences, and the fact that the hon. Gentleman's criticisms and those of his side of the House are well known has not at any time made the slightest difference to the authority with which we have spoken in the United States, in the Soviet Union and elsewhere.

Mr. Maude

Will the Prime Minister assure us that in any conversations he has with the President-Elect, despite the pressures which have been brought to bear on him, as instanced in questions this afternoon, he will bear in mind that the Government of South Vietnam, in addition to being an ally of Commonwealth countries, is an independent, elected and friendly Government, capable of making up its own mind on its own foreign policy?

The Prime Minister

I think the President-Elect knows that, so far as the actions of Her Majesty's Government are concerned on Vietnam, we have never given way to any pressures, whether from our own side of the House or from the other side of the House, on matters where we believe that what we are doing is right. I stand by what I, and my hon. Friend earlier, said about Saigon; that it is certainly highly desirable that Saigon should agree to attend the talks in Paris and not get involved in perhaps less important issues of protocol. It will be a disaster, and a matter for very strong recrimination, if South Vietnam does not come, particularly if by such action South Vietnam hopes to hold up the progress of the talks.

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