§ Q1. Mr. Whiteheadasked the Prime Minister if he will seek to pay an official visit to Czechoslovakia.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Wilson)I have no plans to do so, Sir, but my right hon. and noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs visited Czechoslovakia from 1st to 5th April this year.
§ Mr. WhiteheadIn view of the widespread recent reports that the Husak Government in Czechoslovakia is pressing for closer contacts with this country, does my right hon. Friend agree that it would not be wise to draw closer to a Government who at this moment are reopening the persecution of Alexander Dubcek and many others who were associated with the Prague uprising?
§ The Prime MinisterI share my hon. Friend's anxiety about Alexander Dubcek. My hon. Friend has pressed this matter strongly over many years and in meetings with me. We shall do anything we can in the matter.
§ Sir Frederic BennettRecalling the Prime Minister's past visit to Czechoslovakia, does he now agree that if he changes his mind and pays a further visit there it would be appropriate for him to be rather more critical of the colonial regime that exists in Czechoslovakia vis-a-vis the Soviet Union at present, and in particular in relation to Mr. Dubcek?
§ The Prime MinisterOn that occasion I quoted the actions of Her Majesty's then Government who were reopening relations with Czechoslovakia. Everything I said related to the then Government, and not to any other matter. I am happy to tell the hon. Gentleman that should the Leader of the Opposition visit Czechoslovakia or anywhere else and send a message to her staff through the Diplomatic Service, it will not be leaked to the Press, as was done by the Foreign Office in 1973.