HL Deb 11 June 1968 vol 293 cc4-6
LORD MOYLE

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 they will make a Statement on the Foreign Secretary's recent visit to Moscow and Bonn; and whether in his talks with Herr Willi Brandt the Common Market was discussed.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)

My Lords, as my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary explained in another place on May 29, his visit to Moscow was arranged mainly in the context of Vietnam but provided a useful opportunity for talks on a number of international questions. The main purpose of his visit to Bonn was to renew personal contact with Herr Brandt. He made clear to Herr Brandt our continued determination to enter the European Economic Community.

LORD MOYLE

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that informative reply, may I ask him whether the Foreign Secretary in his interview expressed any doubts at all about the wisdom of pursuing the application to the Common Market, in view of the widespread interest in NAFTA and having regard to the civil commotion in France?

LORD CHALFONT

No, my Lords, my right honourable friend expressed no such doubts. There are, indeed, no such doubts in our minds. We see no reason to change our views about where our interests lie. So far as the North Atlantic Free Trade Area is concerned, that is, of course, not a new idea although a number of experts and commentators seem to think it is. That possibility was examined in great detail some time ago. It was found not to be a viable alternative to membership of the European Economic Community, and we see no reason to change our views on that subject.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, in view of the fact that the first purpose of the visit to Moscow was to discuss the possibilities of peace in Vietnam, may I ask my noble friend whether he can make any statement about the result of those conversations?

LORD CHALFONT

No, my Lords, I am afraid I can say nothing very informative about the exchanges that took place, except to say that both sides recognised that at this stage, with the Paris talks continuing on the Vietnam problem, there could be no question of an early reconvening of the Geneva Conference. The general climate of opinion on both sides was that we should wait and see what develops in the Paris talks.