§ 02. Mr. Arnold Shawasked the Prime Minister what plans he has to meet the Chancellor of the Federal German Republic.
§ The Prime MinisterI have invited the Chancellor to talks at Chequers on 7th February, Sir.
§ Mr. ShawAs France at this time is so firmly committed to one side of the Arab-Israeli dispute, when he meets Herr Schmidt will the Prime Minister endeavour to secure his co-operation within the EEC for an even-handed commitment concerning the Middle East?
§ The Prime MinisterMy right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and I have repeatedly had the opportunity of discussing with the Heads of Government and the Council of Ministers matters concerning the Middle East. Regrettably, there have been differences when these matters have come up—for example, at the United Nations. We have done our best consistently to work for a joint contribution by the Nine in the search for a just settlement in the Middle East. I shall be surprised if we do not discuss this matter on Saturday as we have on previous occasions when I have met the Federal German Chancellor.
§ Mr. Jasper MoreWhen the Prime Minister meets the German Chancellor, will he draw his attention to the recently reported statement of the Belgian Defence Minister—that Western European countries must either do more about their own defence or risk losing American protection? Will he assure the German Chancellor that the United Kingdom Government will increase rather than reduce defence expenditure?
§ The Prime MinisterI have not said that we will increase defence expenditure. This comes badly from a party pressing for thousands of millions of pounds of cuts at this time. I have told the House—the Federal German Chancellor is well aware of what is said in this House—that any reductions, any economies, will not fall on our contribution to the teeth element in NATO.
§ Mr. Roy HughesWould it not be more appropriate for the Prime Minister to visit Italy, bearing in mind that that founder member of the Common Market is now nearly bankrupt in both financial and leadership terms? If the—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. How on earth the hon. Member links that question with the Chancellor of the Federal German Republic I do not know.
§ Mr. HughesI shall try.
§ Mr. SpeakerIf we are to wander all round the globe on a specific subject, the House will get nowhere.
§ Mr. HughesI was about to suggest that if we further integrate our economy with that organisation, we could eventually suffer the same fate.
§ The Prime MinisterAt least my hon. Friend, unlike the chunnerers opposite, will note the significant improvement in economic prospects announced by the CBI and the Financial Times as well as by other indices. If I am to meet the Federal German Chancellor on 7th February, I cannot be in Italy at the same time. Neverthless, as I have made clear, there are plans for a meeting of the so-called European Summit—the European Council—in Luxembourg at the end of April.
§ Mr. AmeryWill the Prime Minister explain to the German Chancellor that the recent attack by a British official, Ambassador Ivor Richard, on a retired American official, Ambassador Mr. Moynihan, was unprecedented, regrettable and will not be repeated? Will he also explain to the Chancellor that our German Allies need not fear that their representatives will be treated with such a gross lack of diplomatic propriety at any time?
§ The Prime MinisterThe Federal German Chancellor has no responsibility for what might have been said by Mr. Moynihan or by Her Majesty's Ambassador at the United Nations. I certainly intend to give no explanation of these matters to the Federal German Chancellor. Our Ambassador was entitled to say what he did in this matter. Obviously we all appreciate the frankest possible speaking at the United Nations and elsewhere, but it is not necessarily my view that that kind of speaking is good for either the Western Alliance or the United Nations.