§ Q5. Mr. Eldon Griffithsasked the Prime Minister what communications he had with President Nixon about joint Anglo-American policies towards Eastern Europe before the latter's decision to visit Roumania.
§ The Prime MinisterI had a full discussion of East-West relations with President Nixon when he visited London on February, and we have since exchanged various messages on the subject.
§ Mr. GriffithsDoes the Prime Minister recall the President's pledge that he would consult his N.A.T.O. allies before, during and after any negotiations with the Soviet bloc? Can the right hon. Gentleman say quite categorically whether he knew of the visit to Rumania before it was announced? If not, when he comes to Mildenhall in my constituency next week, will he say to the President while the aeroplane is fuelling that he feels that the British Government should be better informed?
§ The Prime MinisterOf course I look forward to visiting the hon. Gentleman's constituency. The second point of his supplementary question falls to the ground because categorically, as he said, I was informed in advance by President Nixon of this visit and his other visits, and so was N.A.T.O.
With regard to the discussions on a strategic arms limitation, I answered Questions about this the other day when I said that very detailed discussions were taking place on this matter in the North Atlantic Council and that we played a leading part in those discussions.
§ Mr. Frank AllaunWill my right hon. Friend ask the President next week to support the Finnish proposal for a European security conference, with 2134 American participation, in Helsinki, which is supported by the Rumanians and many other countries? Could he give us an indication of his reply to President Kekkonen's proposal?
§ The Prime MinisterI dealt with this in Questions last week and the week before, following my talks in Sweden with the Finnish Prime Minister and others. I said that I thought that two of the obstacles to such a conference seemed to be disappearing or diminishing. One related to American participation, and it is clear that the East European countries are prepared to agree to that. The other was a problem about thee two Germanys, and I thought that Herr Willi Brandt in Harpsund was extremely helpful. We still would feel that it was necessary to make adequate preparation to ensure that such a security conference is not a place for shouting slogans at one another, but likely to get to grins with the real problems of European security.
§ Sir T. BeamishSince we are cosignatories with the United States, to the Rumanian, Bulgarian and Hungarian peace treaties, and of the Yalta agreement which affects Poland, will the Prime Minister give the House an assurance that we have a clear understanding with the United States about our joint attitudes to the occupied countries?
§ The Prime MinisterI am sure that anything which comes out of President Nixon's visit to Rumania—and he will come straight from there to this country—which has a bearing on this question will be adequately discussed.
§ Mr. BrooksIs my right hon. Friend aware of the recent proposals made by Mr. Gomulka for a bilateral treaty between Western Germany and Poland to legalise the Oder-Neisse frontier? In view of the possible bearing that this might have on Western Germany's right at a future German peace conference, will he undertake to discuss with President Nixon the possibility that the Western Powers might give a favourable sign towards this proposal?
§ The Prime MinisterThere is no change in our position on the question of frontier recognition, which we have always said is a matter for determination in the negotiation of an ultimate peace treaty. Without building too much on 2135 what has happened, we all welcome what Mr. Gomulka has said, and it has been welcomed also by the German Government. The House will have noted with great interest, although it has received little publicity, the very successful visit of the Lord Mayor of Berlin to Poland, when some of these matters were obviously discussed.