§ 3.45 p.m.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, with the permission of the House I will make a statement about the Prime Minister's and the Foreign Secretary's visits to Paris and Bonn, Ottawa and Washington. which the Prime Minister is making in another place. I will make it in the Prime Minister's own words:
"I must begin by expressing once again the gratitude of my right honourable friend and myself for the forbearance which the House has shown to us. I fear that these journeys and our visit to Moscow have meant that we have been absent from the House of Commons for the greater part of a month.
"Our discussions both in Europe and in North America have, of course, centred upon the urgent problems which face us in Europe. The most urgent question was that of procedure. On this I feel that we made very satisfactory progress in Paris and Bonn. Then in Washington the President and I agreed on the main points of our replies to the latest Soviet Note. The process of consultation with our N.A.T.O. allies is not yet quite complete. However, we hope that the Western replies will be delivered in the course of to-morrow. They will explain our ideas on the method and timing of negotiation both as regards a meeting of Foreign Ministers proposed for May and as regards a meeting of Heads of Government later in the summer.
"In addition to the procedure, we had considerable discussion in Paris. Bonn and in the United States, on the substance. We did not try to work out in detail a final Western position on all these problems, but we had useful preliminary discussions on the line of approach. There will be a further opportunity for discussing and agreeing the details of the Western position in Washington next week—first at the tripartite and quadripartite meetings of Foreign Ministers and then in the full N.A.T.O. Council.
"Meanwhile there is a basic principle to which we must hold firm. We must maintain in regard to West Berlin 377 a position which will permit the two and a quarter million inhabitants to live the life of their own choice.
"We also discussed the suggestions for some zone of inspection and limitation of armaments such as was referred to in the communiqué issued after my visit to Moscow.
"In Washington and Ottawa we also considered a number of other subjects such as the work of the Geneva Conference on the Suspension of Nuclear Tests, which is now temporarily adjourned.
"Among the other matters which I raised with President Eisenhower were certain questions of trade and economics, some of which especially affect our interests. I reiterated my conviction that only the economic interdependence of the free world can give us all the expanding basis on which to build prosperity.
"Throughout these talks my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary and I have felt deeply grateful for the friendliness and frankness with which we were everywhere received.
"I know the House will wish me also to pay a tribute to Mr. Dulles. We were fortunate to have two meetings with, him and I cannot too much admire the courage and spirit which he is showing.
"Finally, I should perhaps tell the House that we have, of course, kept the other Commonwealth Governments informed throughout these talks and will continue to do so in the months ahead.
"The problems which divide the West from the Soviet Union and its allies are certainly complex. I do not believe that they are insoluble. I am certain that we must make the most serious efforts to resolve them by negotiation. That process of negotiation is now well under way, and I hope that the House will feel that our journeys have contributed to this result."
§ 3.49 p.m.
VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLS-BOROUGHMy Lords, we are grateful to the noble Earl the Leader of the House for conveying to us the statement made by the Prime Minister in another place; and we are, of course, all glad that the 378 Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have safely returned from their journeys. Obviously at this stage this statement cannot convey much real information to Parliament. But there is a passage which I noted as the noble Earl was giving it to us, and that is with regard to the proposed meeting of Foreign Ministers and an ultimate Summit Meeting. Could I have an assurance that there is complete agreement now that the Summit Meeting will in any case be held, whatever may be the report received from the prior Foreign Secretaries' Conference? I think that is rather important.
THE EARL OF HOMEIf the noble Viscount does not mind, I would rather not elaborate much on this statement to-day, because, as he will see from the statement, Notes are going from the Allied countries to the Soviet Union. They will be published to-morrow; and I think it would he really rather undesirable for me to comment on this statement, or to make a definite reply to the noble Viscount, much as I should like to do so, before that is done.
LORD REAMy Lords, may I formally associate myself with what the noble Viscount has said in welcoming the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary home, and also express the wish of your Lordships to be associated with the tribute to Mr. Dulles? There is one small question that I should like to ask. In what form will these communications be published? Will they be in the form of a White Paper?
VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLS-BOROUGHMy Lords, the time of informing Parliament is rather important. We shall be adjourning for the Easter Recess now. I know that it is hoped that all the replies of the Western Powers will be received by to-morrow. Is the report going to be published during the vacation, or will it be submitted to Parliament on our return?
THE EARL OF HOMEI should like to look into that matter. Naturally, I am anxious to give Parliament the fullest possible information at the earliest possible time. I will look into it and will communicate with the noble Viscount as to the timing.