HL Deb 22 February 1968 vol 289 cc561-2

3.15 p.m.

LORD BROCKWAY

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 what action is being taken to implement the terms of the joint communiqué issued at the end of the talks in Moscow between the Prime Minister and Mr. Kosygin endorsing the proposal for a conference on European security to which all the countries of Europe should be invited to send representatives.]

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, in the joint communiqué issued at the end of the Prime Minister's talks in Moscow it was reaffirmed that a conference on European security could be valuable subject to the necessary preparation", and that it was important that all the countries of Europe should be among the participants". We are in touch with our allies about the best way to make further progress.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, while welcoming that Answer, may I ask whether any consultation has taken place with the Soviet Union before this welcome declaration, and particularly whether any consultation has taken place with Western European countries, either through NATO or outside NATO, to press this idea; and in particular, in view of the fact that the Warsaw Pact nations have indicated their support for this proposal and are now meeting in conference, whether Her Majesty's Government will make some declaration which would facilitate this proposal?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, we are of course aware that the Warsaw Pact countries are in consultation at the moment. There has not been any further contact with the Soviet Government about bilateral discussions on this proposal. I think the Prime Minister made it clear in his Statement in another place on January 25 that we are not seeking to establish any special position for ourselves in this respect, and that we shall want to discuss this in close consultation with our allies before going back to consult with the Soviet Union. Of course, we are, and we shall be, in touch with our Western allies to see how this proposal can be further developed.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, again while thanking the noble Lord for that answer, can he say what specifically has been done on this tremendously important proposal since the decision to communicate with our allies in Western Europe, in view of the fact that the Warsaw Pact Powers have indicated their support for the proposal?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I can only say that we have been in close consultation with some of our allies in Europe. I know my noble friend will not ask me to go into detail on what are so far confidential consultations with our allies.

LORD GLADWYN

My Lords, would not the noble Lord agree that such a conference would be quite useless without the participation of the United States of America?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I think Her Majesty's Government are entirely in sympathy with the noble Lord's question. We continue to regard United States participation from the outset in any such conference as being essential. The United States shares with the Soviet Union, France and Britain special responsibilities for the German question, and Berlin in particular, and in view of that we believe the United States to be vitally involved in the problems of European security.