HL Deb 15 June 1965 vol 267 cc3-4

2.50 p.m.

LORD KENNET

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is now their general policy to invite representatives of the Governments of those countries now allied to us, which we have in former centuries defeated in battle, to meet us at intervals of a century or less on the battle-fields concerned.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD WALSTON)

My Lords, the Answer is, No.

LORD KENNET

My Lords, are the Government aware of the satisfaction with which that Answer will be greeted, in view of the fact that the impression had got around that we had invited representatives of the French Government to meet us and celebrate on the battlefield at Waterloo; and what would be the reaction of Her Majesty's Government if they were invited by the American Government to a drink at Yorktown in 1981?

LORD WALSTON

My Lords, it is a little difficult to predict the attitude of any future Government so far ahead. I think it is not unknown for the United States to invite representatives of Her Majesty's Government to their celebrations on the Fourth of July.

THE EARL OF DUNDEE

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that there were quite a few Englishmen present when, on June 24 last year, the Queen unveiled a statue to commemorate the 650th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, would not the noble Lord agree that this proves we forgive our enemies?

LORD NEWTON

My Lords, the next time could they not be invited to meet on the playing fields of Eton?

BARONESS HORSBRUGH

My Lords, is it not the case that next year we are to celebrate the Battle of Hastings? Are we then going to start celebrating all the times of our defeats?

LORD WALSTON

My Lords, I do not know precisely what are the arrangements for marking the Battle of Hastings; but I never realised, although I am not a good historian, that the Battle of Waterloo was a British defeat.

BARONESS HORSBRUGH

Is that why we are now to make things even, and celebrate the Battle of Hastings, which I think the noble Lord will say was not a British victory?