§ 7. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now seek to arrange an official meeting with the French Foreign Minister.
§ 24. Mr. Dixonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had any recent discussions with the French Foreign Minister on political co-operation in Western European countries.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeThe Foreign Minister of France is always welcome here, but we have no firm plans at present for a meeting.
§ Mr. AllaunBut is it good enough for the Government merely to say, as they do, that the French are well aware of our opposition to their nuclear test explosions in the Pacific? Why does the right hon. Gentleman not put his beliefs into practice by making official representations to the French, as other Governments have done?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeBecause, time and again, I have made it clear to the French Government what our view is. 415 [HON. MEMBERS: "What is it?"] Our view is that the test ban treaty should be adhered to. It is quite a simple view, which I have made clear to the French.
§ Sir G. de FreitasWill the Secretary of State make it clear to the French, and publicly, that we are not in favour of any joint Franco-British nuclear force and would remain loyal to our NATO allies?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeWe will certainly remain loyal to our NATO allies. Any other question about a Franco-British nuclear force is a matter for the future, if at all.
§ Dame Joan VickersAt the recent WEU meeting, I asked M. Debré, the French Minister of Defence, whether he would have further consultations with the new Governments of Australia and New Zealand, and he definitely turned me down. Can my right hon. Friend reopen those negotiations?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeWe are in touch with the new Governments of Australia and New Zealand, but I do not think that this affects our attitude to the question that I was asked, which was whether we could make plain our view on the nuclear testing. My answer is that we have done so many times.
§ Dr. David OwenDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that the key to this matter is that France should have facilities for underground nuclear testing? Will he use his good offices to ensure that the French have access at least to the technology? Then they would be able to sign the partial test ban treaty and cease this atmospheric pollution.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeIf the French were to make any approaches to us, we would give consideration to this matter, or any other. They have not done so so far.