PRESIDENT CARTER (Hansard, 11 April 1978)

§ Q3. Mr. Tebbit
asked the Prime Minister what matters he discussed with the President of the United States of America during his recent visit.

§ The Prime Minister
Our talks were mainly on economic issues as part of the preparation for the seven nation Summit due to be held in Bonn on 16th and 17th July. President Carter and I were agreed on the importance of co-ordinated international action to reduce unemployment, stimulate world trade, assist long-term capital flows especially to the developing countries, introduce greater order into the exchange markets and on the need for the American Administration's energy programme to be made effective.
The President and I also held discussions on the situation in the Middle East, and the future of relations with the Soviet Union, including the current position of the talks to limit strategic arms and other weapons.

§ Mr. Tebbit
Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect that before he went to America he seemed to express in the House a robust attitude towards the possible deployment of enhanced new radiation weapons in Europe? Since then the President has frozen development of such weapons and rather cut the ground from under the Prime Minister's feet. Does the right hon. Gentleman still favour the 1177 deployment of these weapons in the event that the United States goes ahead with their development?

§ The Prime Minister
The President and I discussed the matter fully, especially in the light of the disarmament conference that is coming. I do not detract for one moment from the views that I expressed in the House before, namely, that there are weapons that have been deployed on the Soviet side that are far more dangerous than the enhanced radiation weapon. However, this is a political matter for the President alone to decide, as was always the case. It is for him to decide whether this will assist the disarmament negotiations, and I see no reason to differ from him on that matter. Indeed, we discussed it on that basis. It is important that we should attempt to secure disarmament in this sphere and not to pile up armaments. That is the whole purpose of the strategic arms limitation talks.

§ Miss Joan Lestor
Will my right hon. Friend say whether he had the chance to raise with President Carter the interesting speech of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in which he questioned the continued economic wisdom of further investment in South Africa? If my right hon. Friend has not been able to raise it with him, will he do so at the earliest possible moment?

§ The Prime Minister
Discussions go on about these matters, but I did not discuss the issue particularly with President Carter. It is a growing risk to invest in South Africa, in view of the developing political situation there.

§ Sir J. Eden
In view of the brutally cynical encouragement given by Russia and Cuba to insurrectionist elements in Africa, what attempts did the right hon. Gentleman make to persuade President Carter to back those who are trying to achieve a peaceful solution to the problems of Rhodesia through the medium of the internal settlement?

§ The Prime Minister
The internal settlement, in so far as it accords with the Anglo-American plan, is something that should be supported. However, without the Anglo-American plan there is little prospect that the internal settlement will succeed. That is because there are 1178 substantial elements outside Rhodesia that are not reconciled to it.

§ Mr. Wrigglesworth
I welcome the announcement of the Bonn Summit, but does my right hon. Friend agree that there are fears that such a Summit might raise the expectations of people too high, as has been the case on a couple of previous occasions? Therefore, will he tell us what grounds there are for hoping that more success in getting the world economy going again may be achieved this time? Will he consider inviting OPEC country representatives along to the Summit, as the £40 billion that the OPEC countries have is the major cause of our problems in the West?

§ The Prime Minister
The case for hoping that there will be improvement is that all the Heads of Government gave their support to the statement that was issued yesterday, and to which I referred in my report to the House, on the meeting of the European Council, namely, that there is acceptance that a co-ordinated effort is needed if we are to restore confidence in the Western industrial world. At this stage it would not be advantageous to include the OPEC countries in the discussions.