§ Q1. Dr. Marshallasked the Prime Minister when next he plans to have an official meeting with the President of the United States of America.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Edward Heath)President Nixon is planning a visit to Europe. No firm proposals for the visit have been made but I look forward to the opportunity for a further discussion with him during the visit.
§ Dr. MarshallIn whatever contacts the Prime Minister has with President Nixon, may I ask him to impress upon him the fact, as reported in today's Guardian, that whereas the United States depends on Middle Eastern sources for 10 per cent. of her oil the corresponding figure for Western Europe is 80 per cent., so that any action which may prolong hostilities is far more likely to hurt Europe than America?
§ The Prime MinisterThis is the position, and it is one of which President Nixon is well aware. I have personally discussed the matter with him during our previous talks. The dependence of the United States on external sources of oil is rapidly becoming greater. In a comparatively few years it will be very great indeed.
§ Mr. RidsdaleWhen my right hon. Friend speaks to the President will he discuss the new trilateral relationship which is growing up between Japan, the United States and Europe? What conversations did he have with the Japanese Prime Minister about this?
§ The Prime MinisterIt was after my meeting with President Nixon in Bermuda that I first put forward the importance of the trilateral arrangement between the Community, the United States and Japan. 404 This was naturally a matter which I further discussed with the Prime Minister of Japan when he visited us recently. We discussed in particular the European Declaration and whether this was something which should try to embody the transatlantic and transpacific arrangements or whether there could be separate declarations.
§ Mr. Frank AllaunWill the Prime Minister take the initiative with the President in urging a joint embargo by Britain, America, Russia and France on all arms supplies and training to both sides in the Middle East? Is that not the sensible way to lasting peace in the Middle East?
§ The Prime MinisterWe have been in constant touch with a fairly large number of Governments since the conflict began, obviously including the United States, the Soviet Union, the Arab countries, and so on. It has been very much in our minds that it might be possible, or at least we ought to try, to achieve an arrangement of this kind. It has not so far been possible.