HC Deb 08 December 1969 vol 793 cc26-31
28. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the results of the December meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation meeting so far as his proposals for a European security conference are concerned.

Mr. M. Stewart

The Ministerial Meeting of the North Atlantic Council, which I attended, issued a Declaration on East-West relations on 5th December, which I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Her Majesty's Government fully support the constructive line taken in this Declaration.

Mr. Allaun

Is it not a delaying tactic to postpone for six months the next N.A.T.O. meeting? Would it not be better to test the genuineness of the Warsaw proposals by making Western proposals? Why not emulate the initiative of Herr Brandt?

Mr. Stewart

I would want to put it to my hon. Friend and the House like this. I want to see a conference in which all members of N.A.T.O. and all members of the Warsaw Pact and the European neutrals can take part, a conference so prepared and with such an agenda that it could really reduce tension in Europe. The proposals we have so far emanating from the Prague Declaration would not, I am sure, be acceptable to any country in N.A.T.O.

We ought not to regard that fact as a reason for returing a flat "No". This was why I was anxious at the recent conference to see that N.A.T.O. should get on with further consideration both to what the substance and the method of negotiations should be. I hope then that we shall be able to reach an agreed position which could in time lead to a conference of this kind.

Mr. Eldon Griffiths

I agree absolutely with the way in which the Foreign Secretary has put his case, but will he confirm that the British Government would not attend such a proposed security meeting unless the Americans and Canadians were invited to be present, unless the German people as a whole were represented by the Federal Government, and unless, too, there were a clear advance understanding that the Brezhnev doctrine is not acceptable to N.A.T.O.?

Mr. Stewart

On the first point, we have repeatedly made clear that we would not attend a conference of this kind unless our transatlantic allies in N.A.T.O. were there; in fact, I think that that is fully understood by the countries of the Warsaw Pact. I would not go along with what the hon. Gentleman said about Germany, but I take his point about the Brezhnev doctrine.

Following is the declaration:

DECLARATION ATTACHED TO THE N.A.T.O. MINISTERIAL COMMUNIQUÉ OF 5TH DECEMBER

Meeting at Brussels on 4th and 5th December, 1969, the Ministers of the North Atlantic Alliance reaffirmed the commitment of their nations to pursue effective policies directed towards a greater relaxation of tensions in their continuing search for a just and durable peace.

2. Peace and security in Europe must rest upon universal respect for the principles of sovereign equality, political independence and the territorial integrity of each European state: the right of its peoples to shape their own destinies: the peaceful settlement of disputes: non-intervention in the internal affairs of any state by any other state, whatever their political or social system: and the renunciation of the use of the threat of force against any state. Past experience has shown that there is, as yet, no common interpretation of these principles. The fundamental problems in Europe can be solved only on the basis of these principles and any real and lasting improvement of East-West relations presupposes respect for them without any conditions or reservations.

3. At their meeting in Washington in April, 1969, ministers had expressed the intention of their governments to explore with the Soviet Union and the other countries of Eastern Europe which concrete issues best lend themselves to fruitful negotiation and an early resolution. To this end, the Council has been engaged in a detailed study of various issues for exploration and possible negotiation. Ministers recognised that procedure merited closer examination and, accordingly, requested the Council in permanent session to report to the next Ministerial Meeting.

4. Ministers considered that, in an era of negotiation, it should be possible, by means of discussion of specific and well-defined subjects, progressively to reduce tensions. This would in itself facilitate discussion of the more fundamental questions.

Arms Control and Disarmament

5. Ministers again expressed the interest of the Alliance in arms control and disarmament and recalled the Declaration of Mutual and Balanced Force Reductions adopted at Reykjavik in 1968 and reaffirmed in Washington in1969. The members of the Alliance have noted that up to now this suggestion has led to no result. The Allies, nevertheless, have continued, and will continue, their studies in order to prepare a realistic basis for active exploration at an early date and thereby establish whether it could serve as a starting point for fruitful negotiations. They requested that a Report of the Council in permanent session on the Preparation of Models for Mutual and Balanced Force Reductions be submitted as soon as possible.

6. Ministers of countries participating in N.A.T.O.'s integrated defence programme consider that the studies on mutual and balanced force reductions have progressed sufficiently to permit the establishment of certain criteria which in their view, such reductions should meet. Significant reductions under adequate verification and control would be envisaged under any agreement on mutual and balanced force reductions, which should also be consistent with the vital security interests of all parties. This would be another concrete step in advancing "along the road of ending the ars race and of general and complete disarmament, including nuclear disarmament."

7. These ministers directed that further studies should be given to measures which could accompany or follow agreement on mutual and balanced force reductions. Such measures could include advance notification of military movements and manoeuvres, exchange of observers at military manoeuvres and possibly the establishment of observation posts. Examination of the techniques and methods of inspection should also be further developed.

Germany and Berlin

8. The ministers welcome the efforts of the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, and France in the framework of their special responsibility for Berlin and Germany as a whole, to gain the co-operation of the Soviet Union in improving the situation with respect to Berlin and free access to the city. The elimination of difficulties created in the past with respect to Berlin, especially with regard to access, would increase the prospects for serious discussions on the other concrete issues which continue to divide East and West. Furthermore Berlin could play a constructive rôle in the expansion of East-West economic relations if the city's trade with the East could be facilitated.

9. A just and lasting peace settlement for Germans must be based on the free decision of the German people and on the interests of European security. The ministers are convinced that, pending such a settlement, the proposals of the Federal Republic for a modus vivendi between the two parts of Germany and for a bilateral exchange of declarations on the non-use of force or the threat of force would, if they receive a positive response, substantially facilitate co-operation between East and West on other problems. They consider that these efforts by the Federal Republic represent constructive steps toward relaxation of tension in Europe and express the hope that the governments will therefore take them into account n forming their own attitude toward the German question.

10. The ministers would regard concrete progress in both these fields as an important contribution to peace in Europe. They are bound to attach great weight to the responses to these proposals in evaluating the prospects for negotiations looking toward improved relations and co-operation in Europe.

Economic, Technical and Cultural Exchanges

11. Allied governments consider that not only economic and technical but also cultural exchanges between interested countries can bring mutual benefit and understanding. In these fields more could be achieved by freer movement of people, ideas and information between the countries of the East and West.

12. The benefit of the alliance work in the field of human environment would be enhanced if it were to become the basis of broader co-operation. This could, and should, be an early objective, being one in which the Warsaw Pact Governments have indicated an interest. Further co-operation could also be undertaken, for example, in the more specialised field of oceanography. More intensive efforts in such fields should be pursued either bilaterally, multilaterally or in the framework of existing international bodies comprising interested countries.

Perspectives for Negotiations

13. The Ministers considered that the concrete issues concerning European security and co-operation mentioned in this declaration are subjects lending themselves to possible discussions or negotiations with the Soviet Union and the other countries of Eastern Europe. The Allied Governments will continue and intensify their contracts, discussions or negotiations through all appropriate channels, bilateral or multilateral, believing that progress is most likely to be achieved by choosing in each instance the means most suitable for the subject. Ministers therefore expressed their support for bilateral initiatives undertaken by the German Federal Government with the Soviet Union and other countries of Eastern Europe, looking toward agreements on the renunciation of force and the threat of force. Ministers expressed the hope that existing contacts will be developed so as to enable all countries concerned to participate in discussions and negotiations on substantial problems of co-operation and security in Europe with real prospects of success.

14. The members of the Alliance remain receptive to signs of willingness on the part of the Soviet Union and other Eastern European countries to discuss measures to reduce tension and promote co-operation in Europe and to take constructive actions to this end. They have noted in this connection references made by these countries to the possibility of holding an early Conference on European Security. Ministers agreed that careful advance preparation and prospects of concrete results would in any case be essential. Ministers consider that, as part of a comprehensive approach progress in the bilateral and multilateral discussions and negotiations which have already begun, or could begin shortly, and would relate to fundamental problems of European security, would make a major contribution to improving the political atmosphere in Europe. Progress in these discussions and negotiations would help to ensure the success of any eventual conference in which, of course, the North American members of the Alliance would participate, to discuss and negotiate substantial problems of co-operation and security in Europe.

15. The Ministers affirmed that, in considering all constructive possibilities including a general conference or conferences, they will wish to assure that any such meeting should not serve to ratify the present division of Europe and should be the result of a common effort among all interested countries to tackle the problems which separate them.