§ 26. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has made since his appointment to enable a European Security Conference to take place.
§ 46. Mr. Tilneyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied that the necessary conditions have now been met for the convening of a European Security Conference; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeAs I told the House on 20th July, I would welcome 24 a well-prepared and businesslike meeting to deal with matters of real substance. This and related questions were fully discussed at the meeting of the North Atlantic Council which I attended in Brussels on 3rd and 4th December. With permission, I will circulate the Communiqué of this meeting in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mrs. Renée ShortWill the right hon. Gentleman make it clear that the Foreign Office is not up to its old tricks and trying to raise obstacles when progress in East-West relations appears to be good? Will he also bear in mind that it is many years since the Warsaw Powers made proposals for a security conference? At a time when N.A.T.O. is putting pressure on us to spend more on defence in Europe, does not the Foreign Secretary think that it is high time we made an agreement with the Warsaw Pact countries so that we could reduce our defence expenditure?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeWe do not see any point at this moment in creating new machinery to try to normalise conditions when the present machinery could be used by the Soviet Union if it had the will.
§ Mr. TilneyDoes not my right hon. Friend agree that until the Soviet Union has shown some willingness for peaceful co-existence, both over Berlin and over the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks with the West, we must be chary of making any one-sided concessions?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeYes, that is what I tried to say but my hon. Friend has said it better.
§ Mr. Frank AllaunDoes the Foreign Secretary remember that a month ago he told the House that this conference needed to be carefully prepared? Last week, however, he changed his ground and said at Brussels that the time was not ripe. Does not this suggest that the Foreign Secretary is continually finding excuses for not holding such a conference?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeNo, Sir. I have been totally consistent. If we are to have a conference it must be properly prepared. It is no use beginning the preparation unless the Soviet Union shows itself willing to achieve some easing of tension in Berlin.
§ Mr. HoosonCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the necessary climate for such talks is adversely affected by reports of increased espionage, especially by Russia? In view of the report this morning in the Daily Mail that three Russian diplomats, or members of a trade delegation, have been expelled from this country, can he say whether that is affecting the situation, and also whether the report is correct?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeThat would not affect the calling of any preparations for a security conference. We are constantly having to deal with this aspect of Soviet policy, which I deeply deplore, but it is a separate matter.
§ Following is the communiqué.