§ Q2. Mr. Skinnerasked the Prime Minister what communications he has had with President Pompidou since 23rd April.
§ Q3. Mr. Raphael Tuckasked the Prime Minister what communications he has had with President Pompidou since 23rd April.
§ The Prime MinisterMy communications with President Pompidou are confidential.
§ Mr. SkinnerIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the French President remembers only too well a previous seige in Vietnam? Will the Prime Minister 1124 now pick up a telephone and ask President Pompidou whether it is in order to tell President Nixon that the British people want him to stop this crazy war adventure that he has embarked on in the last few hours?
§ The Prime MinisterThe British Government are, of course, in touch with President Nixon. If President Pompidou wishes to express views to him, I have no doubt that he will do so.
§ Mr. Raphael TuckSince President Pompidou has recognised the fact that in a democracy people must decide their own destiny, is there any reason, as we are supposed to live in a democracy, why the Prime Minister should not take a leaf out of President Pompidou's book and allow the British people to decide their own destiny on the most momentous issue that has ever faced this country? Or is he afraid to do so?
§ The Prime MinisterThe entry into force of the Treaty of Accession, to which the hon. Gentleman is referring, is dependent on its ratification by all member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements. It is open to each of the member States to decide how they should do this. There is no reason why we should argue particularly for a referendum, such as they had in France, nor is there any reason why instead of a referendum, we should not pursue parliamentary methods, as they do in Germany. The matter has been discussed in this House and the Amendment was rejected by a considerable majority.
§ Sir Gilbert LongdenWill the Prime Minister persuade President Pompidou to take part rather more closely in the affairs of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, because it is likely that it will not be long before the Americans have left Europe, and if the European people wish to defend themselves against Communism, they had better get together.
§ The Prime MinisterI do not entirely agree with the mood of the second part of my hon. Friend's question. French policy in NATO is a matter for France, although we have always expressed our desire that, if they find it possible, the French should play a larger part in NATO.