§ Q5. Mr. Sillarsasked the Prime Minister what plans he now has for a further official meeting with the President of France.
§ The Prime MinisterNone at present, Sir.
§ Mr. SillarsIt is true that the Prime Minister's concern over veto on entry to the Common Market has now switched from the President of France to the very senior Conservative who wrote that interesting article in the Spectator on 12th June? Will the Prime Minister take this opportunity to hazard a public guess at the identity of the author?
§ The Prime MinisterIt may be amusing to the hon. Gentleman, but that question is pretty far removed from a further meeting with President Pompidou.
§ Mr. John MendelsonIn the Prime Minister's discussions with President Pompidou, New Zealand was discussed in part at least, according to the Prime Minister's first report. Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the report in today's Guardian that Sir Con O'Neill officially put forward a proposal in Brussels on behalf of the British delegation yesterday afternoon requiring only that figures should be given for New Zealand imports into this country for a transitional period and that there should be a reconsideration at the end of that period, but with no requirement that there should be, as we understood and were led to believe, a permanent arrangement to allow New Zealand to continue imports of food into this country after the United Kingdom enters the Community? Will the Prime Minister deny that statement or tell the House whether Sir Con O'Neill has been correctly reported?
§ The Prime MinisterI cannot be expected to comment on all the reports about the progress of the negotiations which appear in the Press in this country, Europe, or America. As the matter is under negotiation and will be handled by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in Luxembourg next week, the hon. Gentleman should await my right hon. and learned Friend's report on the question.
§ Mr. GorstWill my right hon. Friend make it clear to the French President that, in view of the cordial welcome which my right hon. Friend received when he went to Paris, an equally friendly welcome would be extended to the French President if he came to this country? Will he also make it clear to him that we should welcome the opportunity to hear how he will disport himself in the English language, following my right hon. Friend's excellent performance in French?
§ The Prime MinisterI am sure that if he were to come to this country the President of France would receive its customary warm welcome. The President expressed to me his regret that he did not consider that he was a fluent speaker of English.
§ Q6. Dr. Gilbertasked the Prime Minister if he found an identity of view on arms sales to South Africa in his recent talks with President Pompidou.
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to my statement of 24th May about my talks with President Pompidou.
§ Dr. GilbertWhen the Prime Minister told the House that he found an identity of interest with the French President on all matters relating to problems facing us in different parts of the world, was he aware that France was still in breach of the United Nations resolution of 25th July last year forbidding the sale of armaments under licence to South Africa, that French armoured cars are still being manufactured under licence in South Africa, and that the French restriction on armaments sales does not extend to land-based armaments? May we have an assurance that there will be no change of British policy to bring us into line with French policy in this respect?
§ The Prime MinisterWhat I said in my statement was that the President and I found an identity of view on the rôle which a united Europe can play in relation to the problems which face us in other parts of the world. I emphasised in particular that this was with the developing world. I did not say that on every issue of foreign policy which confronted our two countries we were of exactly the same view. The differences between ourselves and France on this question are well known. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will point out to some African members of the Commonwealth, who are so critical of us but who can at the same time improve their trade and arrangements with France, exactly what the position is.
§ Mr. WaltersIs my right hon. Friend aware that only the most obscurantist opponent of any British foreign policy could fail to welcome the advance that took place in his conversations with President Pompidou, which not only removed obstacles to possible entry by Britain into the European Economic Community but also greatly improved relations with France?
§ The Prime MinisterI am grateful to my hon. Friend for what he said and I believe that, on reflection, the whole House would agree that it is good for 641 Europe—for both of our countries—that the relations between France and Britain should now be improved and put on to a better basis.
§ Mr. George ThomsonReverting to the question of arms sales to South Africa, can the right hon. Gentleman say what further request the Government have received from Mr. Botha, the South African Defence Secretary, when he met his right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary the other day? What response have the Government made?
§ The Prime MinisterThe position over arms sales to South Africa remains exactly as my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary described it in February.