Mr. J. Enoch Powellasked the Lord Privy Seal, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Sir J. Biggs-Davison) on 7 December, Official Report, column 285, in what respects the attitude adopted by the United States Government, as made known to him by the American Deputy Secretary of State, is helpful to Her Majesty's Government in the context of Northern Ireland; and if he will publish any information made known by him to the Deputy Secretary of State but not made known to the Parliament or public of the United Kingdom, on the discussion on 6 November between the Prime Minister and the Irish Premier.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsThe aspects of the United States Government's attitude to Northern Ireland that are helpful are their resolute condemnation of violence and terrorism; their efforts to prevent fund raising and the acquisition of anus in the United States of America for use by terrorists in Northern Ireland; their refusal to adopt a policy or position on the question of Irish unity; and, finally, their recognition that if solutions are to ensure they must come from the people themselves and that it is not for the United States to chart the course that others must follow.
Although it is not the practice of Her Majesty's Government to reveal the details of confidential discussions with the representatives of foreign Governments, I can tell the right hon. Gentleman that I informed Judge Clark about the discussions between my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and the Taioseach in the same terms as have been used to inform the Parliament and the public of the United Kingdom.