European Unity (M. Harmel's Proposals)

HC Deb 17 February 1969 vol 778 cc18-20

11. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress with the Harmel proposals.

36. Mr. David Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to carry forward plans for European unification in areas not covered by the Treaty of Rome.

69. Mr. Wingfield Digby

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the recent meeting of the Western European Union Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg.

Mr. M. Stewart

At the Luxembourg meeting of Western European Union on 6th and 7th February I expressed again the Government's full support for Monsieur Harmel's proposals, which had been set out in an Italian paper prepared in consultation with other member Governments. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs told the House on 10th February of the agreement reached at that meeting. I regard this agreement as a useful step towards closer harmonisation of policies in fields not covered by the Treaty of Rome.—[Vol. 777, c. 879–80.]

Mr. Marten

Is it not true that the original Harmel proposals have in fact been watered down by French objections? Are not the Government, by continuing this danse macabre in the backyard of the Common Market, really doing great damage to French relations with the Common Market by tending to isolate them? Is it not time that they stopped doing this?

Mr. Stewart

I do not accept that for a moment. It is quite true that in seeking agreement with the French we considered what presentation in the Italian paper would be the most likely to reach general agreement. It is not our desire to isolate the French. But we cannot take the view that no progress can be made without their agreement.

Mr. Howell

Whilst a worsening of relations with the French is to be regretted, would the Foreign Secretary accept that the position on European unity and the way for France is broadly right? Having taken the initiative on foreign policy, will the right hon. Gentleman indicate where else he thinks favourable initiatives on this basis could be taken?

Mr. Stewart

The Italian paper referred to a number of other spheres; for example, defence and technology. It was thought right to begin with this one, and we shall persist.

Mr. Moonman

Will my right hon. Friend regard any attempt to suggest that we are trying to isolate the French as mischievous, and will he give greater attention to technological collaboration and scientific development?

Mr. Stewart

Yes. I hope it is an ignorant rather than a mischievous suggestion that we are deliberately trying to isolate the French. On the second part of my hon. Friend's question, there is a later Question on that matter.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

Will the Foreign Secretary assure the House that he will not be intimidated, by continuous Gaul-list blustering and bullying in this matter, from pursuing these very constructive proposals, and will he also resist any effort to call off the W.E.U. meeting later this week in Paris?

Mr. Stewart

We have no intention of calling off that meeting. However, I shall try to avoid, if I can, words like "blustering" and "bullying". We have stated quite clearly what we propose to do and why we think it is right to go on doing it.

Mr. Henig

Will my right hon. Friend say what plans he has for meetings with the French Foreign Secretary in the near future? Does he agree with the proposition that Britain and France have a natural community of interest as against certain other countries in both Eastern and Western Europe?

Mr. Stewart

There are very close connections between the French and ourselves and there are frequent opportunities for exchange of views. I agree that there ought to be a great community of interest between the French and ourselves and that present differences of opinion are very much to be regretted. However, I do not think that they are of our making.

Mr. Sandys

While congratulating the right hon. Gentleman on the highly successful initiative that he took in convening the W.E.U. meeting on the Middle East, may I ask whether he is aware that there is much satisfaction on the continent with the knowledge that when the British Government discuss these matters in New York they will not only be representing their own views, but they will also be able to take into account the views of their partners in Western Europe?

Mr. Stewart

I believed that it was right to hold and take part in this meeting not only as an earnest of our belief in European consultation, but for the reason that the right hon. Gentleman mentions. Although the four permanent members have a special responsibility towards the Middle East, it would be most undesirable for it to be thought that they were going to try to settle the whole matter themselves without regard to the interests or beliefs of other countries.