§ 3.3 p.m.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy 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 have received an invitation to an international meeting in Helsinki on November 22 to prepare for a European Conference on Security and Co-operation next year and, if so, what answer has been given.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have been asked by the Finnish Government whether it would be convenient for us if the multilateral preparatory talks for a European Security Conference were to start in Helsinki on November 22. The date causes us no difficulty. But we must ensure it is acceptable to all our allies before we reply, which we hope to do shortly.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, while welcoming that reply, as usual, may I ask the Minister this question? Is it not the case that both the United States of America and the Soviet Union have accepted this date? Has not the obstacle in the past been that there was an apparent unwillingness by the Soviet Union to discuss "mutual and balanced force reductions"? Has not this last obstacle now been removed by the negotiations by Dr. Kissinger with the Soviet Union, which are reported to have led to a commitment by the Soviet Union to enter discussions by the end of January? Is there no reason now why this Conference should not go ahead?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, we hope for ourselves that this Conference will go ahead. It is difficult in some respects to consider the whole question of "mutual and balanced force reductions" at this Conference because they are highly complicated. But that does not mean to say that it would not be possible; but we have to wait for our allies to make a final reply.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, is it not the case that the State Department in Washington has said that the Soviet Union is now prepared that these discussions should take place "in parallel" with the negotiations for the Conference itself? Does not this remove all the obstacles that remained?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, we have always said that if it was possible we could have these talks "in parallel". The whole nub of the problem is of course the difference in the force levels of NATO and of the Warsaw Pact and Central Europe.
§ LORD BESWICKMy Lords, could the noble Baroness tell us whether we may take it that we have indicated to our allies that, so far as we are concerned, we should be happy to accept this invitation?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEYes, my Lords, that is so; but it must be a date convenient to everyone concerned.
§ LORD GLADWYNMy Lords, is it now intended that the so-called Brezhnev doctrine will be on the agenda?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, the whole object of the preparatory talks is not only to discuss the agenda but also to see whether there is enough common ground to have the Conference at all.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I come in once more? Is it not the case that NATO itself has now been convinced, as a result of the Dr. Kissinger negotiations, that it should participate in this Conference? Would Her Majesty's Government now seek to try to make this Conference a success, for the sake of the peace of Europe and the whole world?
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, so far as we are concerned, Her Majesty's Government will certainly try to make this Conference a success, if it takes place.
§ BARONESS GAITSKELLMy Lords, is it not very naïve, with the greatest respect, to place so much trust in the activities of Dr. Kissinger? Surely, there 1124 have been statements from the State Department before, about China, about Russia, which have not come to anything very much.
§ BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIEMy Lords, without replying in detail to a comment on a certain public figure, I would only say that discussions are going on quite happily between all concerned as to whether in fact this date is convenient to all.