HC Deb 24 March 1969 vol 780 cc1040-1
24. Mr. Lane

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will invite the French Foreign Minister to visit Great Britain officially.

Mr. M. Stewart

I have no plans to do so at present.

Mr. Lane

As the present Anglo-French rift, whoever we hold mainly responsible, is poisoning the whole European atmosphere, does not the Foreign Secretary think that such an invitation later this year might be timely? Will he be ready to hold out his "safe pair of hands" across the Channel?

Mr. Stewart

I hope to meet my French colleague at any rate at the N.A.T.O. Ministerial meeting in Washington. I certainly do not rule out subsequent meetings. I simply said that I have no such plans at present.