§ 3.20 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, may I ask, by Private Notice, whether Her Majesty's Government is making a statement today on the visit of the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary to the West Indies, the United States and Canada?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, I think it may be convenient to the House if I made, in the Prime Minister's own words, the statement which he is making in answer to a number of questions in another place. It is as follows:
"As the House knows, when I first became Prime Minister four years ago I set myself the task of visiting all the independent countries of the Commonwealth. In pursuance of this aim I thought it would be valuable to visit the Federation of the West Indies at this time, when they have so nearly achieved independence.
"This visit gave me the opportunity for talks with the Prime Minister of the Federation, the Premiers of Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad, the Chief Ministers of various other islands, and many other Ministers and political leaders. We naturally discussed many matters of interest to the West Indies, including the prospects of independence for the Federation, their economic situation and the problems of migration. In addition I was invited to address the Legislature of the Federation of the West Indies.
"While I was in the Western Hemisphere I paid two visits to the United States. The first of these was a meeting of a few hours, at the President's invitation, to confer upon the specific question of our policy in Laos. The next meetings, which had been arranged some time ago, covered some four days and many subjects were discussed.
"I was very glad to have these opportunities to meet President Kennedy and other members of the new Administration. As indicated in the agreed statement issued at the end of our talks, we covered a great 337 variety of subjects. We held a general review of current problems and policies in economic, financial, trade, defence and political matters; and, in addition, we discussed a number of specific subjects, including the progress of the Nuclear Tests Conference at Geneva, the difficulties of the shipping industry and the economic problems of the West Indies.
"Since I was paying these visits at the beginning of the term of office of a new President, my chief purpose was to explain the point of view of Her Majesty's Government on a number of subjects and to ascertain the attitude of the new Administration. I found a welcome readiness to discuss our problems in a very frank and imaginative way, which gives good augury for the future.
"Finally, I was glad to be able to end my trip in Ottawa and to hold consultations with Mr. Diefenbaker and his colleagues. These covered a general review of our poblems, as well as some specific matters. As always, our talks were very friendly and useful."
§ 3.24 p.m.
VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLS-B0ROUGHMy Lords, I am much obliged to the noble Earl, the Foreign Secretary for his kindness in giving us this statement. It is quite a lengthy one. I think he will agree with me that it does not tell us very much, as I look into it. At any rate, I hope it means that the Prime Minister has now concluded his long tour of Summit talks and perhaps the Foreign Secretary will have a little more elbow room and freedom in some subsequent talks.
May I ask one or two specific questions? Could we have another word from him about what he considers is the present position not only arising out of these talks but in the build up, since he last spoke to us on it, in Laos? It seemed a little more hopeful a week or two ago, but we do not seem to be getting much specific information about it. It is a rather dangerous situation. I think the Foreign Secretary has done his best from the end of last year, if I recollect rightly, to get something going with the U.S.S.R. on the matter. I should very much like to know, if possible, how far he has been able to get.
338 I think it would be helpful—I do not know whether he could do it to-day—if we could have, as soon as possible, some statement as to what is the Foreign Office view now in relation to these talks, which have apparently had a Press which indicates some sympathy on the part of the U.S.S.R., with regard to nuclear tests and other matters connected with nuclear disarmament. If we could have some little indication on that matter I should be very glad indeed. I must say that the general report the Prime Minister has made to-day upon the spirit in which he and the Foreign Secretary have been met is encouraging, and I am bound to hope that the position of our country and the general position in the world will continue to improve.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, the position so far as the Laotian difficulty is concerned is at present like this. I have sent a message to Mr. Gromyko in my capacity as co-Chairman of the Geneva Conference asking him if he will agree to three simultaneous actions: first, a call for a cease-fire; secondly, the return of the International Control Commission to New Delhi and to Laos; and thirdly, the issue of invitations to a Conference to be held within a matter of weeks—very shortly indeed, if Mr. Gromyko could agree. In fact, I can see no reason why this process of action should not be agreed upon now. We and the Americans, and indeed all the other parties concerned, I think—I do not know about the Chinese—would be wilting to get ahead now on these lines, so I hope we shall receive a very speedy reply. I confess that I cannot quite understand why we have not had it already.
As to the Nuclear Tests Conference, when it reassembled the Americans and ourselves put forward certain proposals which had the effect of meeting four or five of the major Russian demands. There are now two or three matters which I do not think are of real significance and which, with goodwill, could easily be settled in a matter of days. I think it would be well in the next few days if we made clear to the country, and indeed to the world, the exact proposals which we have put forward, because it would serve to show the narrowness of the difference and to isolate the points of difference and difficulty; and I hope that may be done. But, again, in 339 this very important matter, which may open up the way to general disarmament, I hope that the Soviet Government will show a constructive line to enable us to get the rapid agreement which is perfectly possible.
§ LORD HENDERSONMy Lords, may I supplement the two points raised by my noble Leader? The noble Earl referred to this point in his Answer. There is nothing that I can remember in the communiqués, or in the statement, about general disarmament, which is at a complete standstill at the moment. Has the noble Earl anything to say about the resumption of the Disarmament Committee?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I think that the United States Government, and indeed probably the Soviet Union, want to have a little more time in which they can have discussions about disarmament and in which the principles that govern disarmament and the practical steps that have been put forward by both sides should be reviewed. I think that the probable programme is that if there is sufficient agreement, then the Disarmament Conference could be resumed sometime in the summer, and I profoundly hope that that will be so. But I would rather not give definite programmes, because I think it is very important that, so to speak, East and West should review the progress made and agree upon the forum in which disarmament discussions could be renewed.
§ LORD HENDERSONI am obliged to the noble Earl.