§ 2.46 p.m.
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)My Lords, I should like to make a personal statement to remove any misconceptions that may arise from an answer which I gave to a supplementary question on the subject of Trieste yesterday. I said that, by my recollection, the Italian and Yugoslav Governments had had upwards of two days' notice of the nature of the Anglo-American proposals before their publication. This was, I regret to say, not accurate. The whole question of what should be done about Trieste had, as noble Lords will, I am sure, appreciate, been the subject of intensive discussions over a period of weeks following on the rise of tension between the two countries. I had taken part in many of these most complex discussions, and I am afraid that my memory, confronted with this particular point, of which I had had no notice, failed me. I can only express my most sincere regret to noble Lords for having misled them. I would add that I have already taken the necessary steps to prevent my inaccuracy from obtaining general currency.
§ VISCOUNT HALLMy Lords, in the absence of my noble and learned Leader, Earl Jowitt, may I say that we appreciate the manner in which the noble Marquess 1272 has dealt with this question. We quite understand the circumstances in which the reply was given, and of course we accept the noble Marquess's explanation as to the matter.
LORD REAMy Lords, we on these Benches also of course accept without any question what the noble Marquess has said; we are only sorry for him that he has had to say it. He has our sympathy and, as usual, our admiration.