HC Deb 07 November 1966 vol 735 c200W
15. Mr. Heffer

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what is the Government's policy towards the Warsaw Pact countries' proposals in Bucharest last July; and if he will make a statement;

(2) whether he has further considered the Warsaw Treaty countries' proposals for a European Security Conference; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. George Thomson

There are parts of the Declaration, particularly the proposal advocating that European countries should intensify their contacts and cooperation irrespective of their social systems, which have our full support and there are also parts with which we do not agree.

We think that the idea of a European Security Conference is premature. We need to make further progress in establishing mutual trust and goodwill in Europe before we can hope to solve the largest and most difficult problems which still confront us.