§ 3.43 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, may I ask whether we are to have the expected Statement now?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, I seem to be making a timely arrival. I beg the pardon of the noble Viscount the Leader of the Opposition; I was unable to be here before because of a meeting. I should like to repeat here the statement that my right honourable friend the Prime Minister is making in another place because I think that your Lordships would like to have it. It is as follows:
In the light of recent developments in North Africa and the coming N.A.T.O. meeting, I have accepted"—this is the Prime Minister speaking in another place—an invitation to visit Paris on November 25 to discuss with the French Prime Minister matters of common interest to our two Gov- 458 ernments. I will be accompanied by my right honourable and learned friend the Foreign Secretary.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am obliged to the noble Earl for giving us a repetition of the statement. I am sure that all noble Lords will be pleased that there is to be direct conversation between the Prime Minister and the French Prime Minister before the N.A.T.O. ministerial meeting. But I am puzzled by the opening words of the statement, "In the light of recent developments." Which recent developments? Are these the developments which have taken place since the upsurge of public opinion in France or before?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, of course, I am not responsible for the words. My right honourable friend the Prime Minister chooses his own words. But since these matters have arisen, there has been a difference of opinion between the French Government and ourselves on the question of the sending of arms to Tunisia, and obviously that will be one of the subjects of conversation between the two Prime Ministers.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Earl. I think that the beginning of the statement might have been worded, "In view of the consequences of recent events in North Africa." I hope that something better will come out of this than we have had yet in this unfortunate incident.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, as I say, my right honourable friend chooses his own words, but perhaps it is too limiting to say, "In view of the consequences of recent events." I think that the conversations will obviously cover many things that happened before these more recent events.
LORD WINDLESHAMMy Lords, as I was a member of last. week's Parliamentary delegation to the Paris meeting of N.A.T.O., I can only refer to what has already been said in the Press: that the volume of opinion in Paris when the French delegation walked out—and this was not only the atmosphere in the Palais de Chaillot but also the atmosphere outside—was one of great criticism and tremendous tension. It is a great relief to many of us to hear that 459 the Prime Minister is leaving so soon as next Monday to go to Paris to talk about this matter with the French Prime Minister. Let us not underestimate the situation which has arisen. How it has arisen is a matter about which no doubt the Foreign Secretary is much better informed than somebody like myself. But to the general public, to the man in the street, it looks like an unsatisfactory state of affairs, the sort of thing which should not happen. N.A.T.O., to use the somewhat theatrical language of N.A.T.O. itself, is the "shield and sword" of the Western World, and any attempt to make a dent in it is most strongly to be deplored. We are very glad to hear that the Prime Minister has been so quick to take action.