§ 8. Mr Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what subjects he hopes to discuss with Vice-President Mondale when he visits Europe.
§ Mr. CroslandVice-President Mondale had a meeting with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 27th January, which I attended. Discussion covered matters of mutual concern to the United States and the United Kingdom, in particular the world economic situation and the possibility of a summit meeting of the main industrialised countries. Views were also changed on Rhodesia, Cyprus, the Middle East, relations with the developing countries and some bilateral questions.
§ Mr. AdleyDid the Foreign Secretary or the Prime Minister discuss with Mr. Mondale the importance to Britain and France of the Concorde project, and the importance of the decision to be reached in New York on 10th February to both countries? If he did not, will he please tell the American Administration of the British Government's determination to see that Mr. Colman's ruling on Concorde for a trial period is adhered to and is not overcome in New York by "phoney" political opposition?
§ Mr. CroslandWe raised the question of Concorde, and made plain the importance that we attach to it and to the ruling that is due on 10th February. I understand that the French Government took the same view when Vice-President Mondale 534 visited Paris and that the French raised the matter in a very positive manner.
§ Mr. RoperWill my right hon. Friend say something more about the discussions that he and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister had with Mr. Mondale about the world economic situation? What measures were discussed to coordinate the activities of the industrialised countries to tackle the growing problem of unemployment in both the developed and the developing countries?
§ Mr. CroslandThis subject naturally played a major part in our discussions. We underlined the view, which is held not merely by the British Government but by the OECD, that the critical factor in the world economic situation at the moment is the need for some acceleration of growth in the United States, Germany and Japan. No final decisions were taken or could have been taken at a meeting of this kind, but it was clear that the question that my hon. Friend has raised is central to the agenda for the discussions of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister when he goes to Washington in March, and also for the economic summit, which will probably be some time in May.
§ Mr. AmeryIs the Foreign Secretary aware that there is a widespread feeling that his discussions with the Vice-President about Rhodesia came to the conclusion that what was important was not majority rule, which the so-called Patriotic Front of Rhodesia did not appear to represent, but that there should be an agreement to persuade or compel Mr. Smith to hand over power to Soviet-influenced and Soviet-dominated elements in Africa, inimical to British and other Western interests in Southern Africa?
§ Mr. CroslandI cannot believe that this was the widespread view of the discussions that we had about Rhodesia with Vice-President Mondale. So far as I know, there has been no Press speculation about the content of these discussions. As to the substance of the right hon. Gentleman's question, I have said again and again what is surely an obvious truth, that any spread of Soviet influence in Southern Africa is far more likely to be caused by Mr. Smith's rejection of the British proposals than by anything that the British Government are proposing.