§ Q7. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Prime Minister if he will now seek a meeting with Heads of Governments of the European Community prior to their summit meeting.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Mr. Bruce-GardyneI accept that the time available before this meeting for a visit in a Spanish frigate to Europe is a bit limited, but would not the Prime Minister agree that if one supports the Government's approach to Europe it might be desirable that the Six should be warned that by arranging an extravagant and hasty statement of the financing of their agricultural policy in order to expedite negotiations with this country they might vitiate the chances of success of those negotiations?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think that it is necessary for Her Majesty's Government to give any warnings to the Six about how they should conduct their affairs in settling the problems which have arisen between themselves—not between them and us—on the agricultural programme. They are well aware of the problem, and it must be for them to decide how they handle it. They will be well aware also that as soon as they 1181 are agreeable to negotiations we are ready to take part in them.
§ Mr. John MendelsonWhile accepting the Prime Minister's view that there is no point in rushing into a summit meeting, may I ask him to bear in mind that one of the essential preconditions of any European co-operation, either in Western Europe or across Europe, is closer cooperation with France? Will my right hon. Friend therefore do his best to make our relations with France as close as possible?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, we have made clear that we want the closest possible relations with the French Government, and we are prepared to do everything in our power to make this possible. Since the question of negotiations must rest on a decision taken by the Six and not by any one country, it would be wrong for us to say that our approach to negotiations should be by approaching one individual country. When the Six are ready we are ready.
§ Mr, GrimondDo the Prime Minister's answers to this Question mean that the position is that we are waiting now for an approach from the Six and that the Government intend to take no initiative in this matter?
§ The Prime MinisterWe are in touch with the Governments of the Six. Indeed, my right hon. Friend will be meeting the new Foreign Minister of Germany in the very near future. But I do not believe that the success of our application, which I know the right hon. Gentleman has supported for very many years, will be promoted by our knocking on the door and importuning individual members of the Six on this matter. They know where we stand. They know that our application is in. They know the conditions which we set out in the statement of 4th July, 1967. We are ready to deal with them when there is a reply.