HC Deb 17 March 1969 vol 780 cc22-4
27 and 28. Mr. Henig

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether it was with his approval that Her Majesty's Ambassador sought a meeting with President de Gaulle on 4th February, 1969;

(2) if he will arrange a meeting with the Foreign Secretary of France.

29. Mr. Wingfield Digby

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies, apart from other Western European Union members, were informed about the conversation between General de Gaulle and the British Ambassador; and on what date or dates this was done.

34. Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now place in the Library copies of Her Majesty's Ambassador's record of his conversation with General de Gaulle on 4th February, of the version of this record which was communicated by Her Majesty's Government to other Governments, and of the commentary upon it which was transmitted to such Governments at the same time.

Mr. M. Stewart

These matters were thoroughly discussed in this House on 24th and 25th February, and again on 4th and 6th of March, when my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister replied to Questions about this. I have nothing to add.—[Vol. 778, c. 1088–1107, 1337–48;Vol. 779, c. 214–18, 665–72.]

Mr. Henig

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a mystery about why the British Ambassador was placed in an absurd position by being sent to General de Gaulle to have an offer indicated in detail, when the outline of what the President would suggest was well known in advance? Is it not the case that the British Government had done no contingency planning for dealing with the Ambassador's report and, therefore, placed themselves in an embarrassing position?

Mr. Stewart

If my hon. Friend will forgive my saying so, I do not think that what he says makes sense at all. It is part of an Ambassador's normal duties to discuss matters of common concern with the Head of the Government to which he is accredited. One could not reasonably assume that one would know in advance of a conversation what would be said in it, and there was no embarrassing position.

Mr. Wingfield Digby

Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm or deny reports that France is to continue to boycott the Council of Ministers of the W.E.U.?

Mr. Stewart

I am not in a position to confirm or deny that at present.

Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

In view of the breaches of confidentiality which have already occurred, and in view of the suggestion that the Foreign Office has intentionally distorted the record in order to create mischief between France and her neighbours, would it not be as well if the record were published?

Mr. Stewart

As I said previously, that would be a most unusual step to take, and it would be justified only if the accuracy of the record were seriously challenged. I think that the only person to challenge it now is the hon. Gentleman.

Mr. William Price

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the fact that some of us think that the matter was handled beautifully, on the basis that an occasional kick in the teeth might do de Gaulle good?

Mr. Stewart

If my hon. Friend will forgive me, I must say that we must try to avoid that kind of presentation. I believed then, and I have believed firmly since, that the line taken by Her Majesty's Government was correct.