COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES (Hansard, 17 October 1968)

§ Q1. Mr. Marten
asked the Prime Minister whether he will make to lour of Commonwealth countries.

§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)
It would be impracticable to undertake a comprehensive tour of Commonwealth countries. I look forward, however, to meeting my colleagues from other Commonwealth countries at our Meeting in January.

§ Mr. Marten
If it is impracticable to make a tour, would the Prime Minister consider doing what my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition has done? My right hon. Friend has been to Australia, toured Australia and met the people of Australia. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that if he did that, he would find a great sense of dismay among Australians about the decision to withdraw from the Far East and a sense of relief at the decision by the Conservative Party, the next Government, to stay there?

§ The Prime Minister
The hon. Gentleman must be responsible for his own policies, but there is nothing I should more like to do than visit Australia and New Zealand. I am also under commitment to visit India. I do not accept that the 576 lesson of recent events is confirmed by what the hon. Gentleman has said about Australia.

§ Mr. Brian Parkyn
Further to the point about Australia; is my right hon. Friend aware that since 1961, when a predecessor of his applied to join the Common Market, Australia and this country have continually diverged both economically and politically and that a visit by him would be greatly appreciated at this time?

§ The Prime Minister
My hon. Friend will not wish to confuse cause and effect. The economic diversification of trade began long before 1961 and has been continued since despite the best efforts of all of us to redress it.

§ Mr. Heath
The Prime Minister will recall that he gave an undertaking that he would initiate discussions among Commonwealth countries, either through the Commonwealth Secretariat or direct, about Commonwealth citizenship and the future of legislation concerned with it. Has any progress been made in preparation for the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference?

§ The Prime Minister
Yes, Sir. We fully accept that that is a necessary subject for discussion at the Conference and we are doing our best to ensure that it will get adequate time.