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Mr. Bevin: We could not keep him quiet. But he will deal with that state- ment when the time comes. I have served in one previous Government.
I never questioned the man who was to be work- ing alongside me in that Government, and I am not going to question the Prime Minister's decision in this Government. If a man is working alongside me I am going to work along with him.
Mr. Dodds-Parker (Banbury): And he wants to have the right hon. Gentleman's job.
Mr. Bevin: If he has my job he will have my headaches as well as his own.
**
"
an
I have seen
a suggestion in the "Times this morning-I have a great respect for the Times "that if there is great pressure for a European Assembly this Government should without further consideration, bow before such pressure, but endeavour to see that such Assembly should be as little harmful as possible. That is not the way to grapple with this business. Whatever we do we must not disappoint the people of Western Europe. To set up a mere façade, a platform, and know that it can do nothing and to stop at that, will lead to another disappointment. I shall con- sider any advice that may be given be- fore I consider what advice to tender to my colleagues, but I do not want to dis- appoint the people of Western Europe. What I want to do is to build construc- tively, to build things that will last. We have done that in the last 12 months. Step by step we have been advancing.
Mr. Piratin (Mile End): Backwards.
Mr. Bevin: There are two considera- tions to bear in mind. The Brussels Pact deals with defence. The Western Union may have to deal with problems which will not involve defence. Certain coun- tries may come into the Western Union but not come into the defence pact. Therefore, at a suitable stage, we must consult Scandinavia, we must consult Italy and these other Powers around and see what is necessary-[Hon. Mem- BERS: Spain."-Spain would be easy if only Franco would disappear-if the thing is to be worked out constructively. I am against using any promises or facades to lead people to believe that they have something which, when the
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test comes, does not work. I will hot comment on another international insti- tution about the effectiveness of which all of us at the moment are gravely con- cerned. One other point-[Interruption.] Well, the United Nations is giving us grave concern as to whether it is going to face the serious problems involved.
There is one other thing I must men- tion in this connection. We have had a Commonwealth Conference and have entered into a great deal of consultation about co-operation, defence and all kinds of measures. We cannot recklessly assume undertakings in connection with Europe without carrying with us the Common- wealth in complete understanding. Because in the end it is the combina- tion of Western Union with those great countries of the Commonwealth which, as I said in a previous speech, is bound to be the stabilising influence in the world.
Mr. Kenneth Lindsay (Combined English Universities): In the speech the right hon. Gentleman made a few weeks ago, during the short Session, there was a question of the Prime Ministers of the Commonwealth not having met.
Now
that they have met can he give us any information as to whether in general they are in agreement with the develop- ments in Western Europe?
Mr. Bevin: I think that the hon. Member had better wait for the report of the Prime Minister on the Conference. I had better not be drawn into that. That is not an excuse, but I cannot be diverted. The question put to me is a matter relating to Commonwealth coun- tries. I am reminded that the com- muniqué we issued contained a reference to this matter, and, so far as I know, on the question of Western Union there was complete understanding, but not as to a European Assembly. I must not com- mit them to that, or the form it would take.
But as regards the main prin- ciple, namely co-operation with Western Union, there was complete understand- ing. That is what I meant. I misunder- stood the question which the hon. Member put.
Therefore, looking back over the period since the first appropriation was voted for European recovery up to now, there are many signs of encouragement. There was a threat to upset the whole economy of France, but the French attitude is
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Foreign Affairs undergoing great change. Hon. Members will have noticed the recent speech of Mr. Schumann, who combines the defence of vital French interests with a great outlook on Europe as a whole. He de- clared that the security of Europe can- not be the responsibility of one country, however powerful. Europe must be a common achievement in which 'Germany must find a place, first of all economically and then politically. The stage has not been reached when we can do the things we want to do politically, but we can do an enormous lot in the political field. Discussions have gone on in the Italian Parliament during which the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minis- ter both made statements in which they identified Italy with the cause of Western democracy. We welcome these statements and we look forward to an early associa- tion of Italy in this work.
I do not think anyone can deny that there is a growing spirit of European soli- darity. It is reflected in the great in- terest in the discussions that are going
on.
We welcome that. The only thing
I would say is that we may have to build a little slower, for we have to build methodically. We must refuse to be stampeded into unpractical if attrac- tive expedients, but we shall give way to none in our desire to achieve the ulti- mate objective. I venture to suggest that His Majesty's Government have during the last year done more than anyone to promote European collaboration and effort in the economic field, and greater understanding in the political field. At the same time-and this is so vital- we have carried with us other people both in the Commonwealth and in other countries and this, as the votes in the U.N. at Paris have shown recently is beginning to create a situation in which not only is the outlook of the Western democracies becoming predominant but also their solidarity is growing and they are on the way towards attaining their security and their final triumph.
Mr. Deputy-Speaker (Mr. Bowles): Mr. Eden.
Mr. Piratin: Before the Minister sits down would he say a few words on-
Mr. Eden (Warwick and Leamington)
rose
Mr. Deputy-Speaker: Order.
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Mr. Piratin: On a point of Order, Is it not customary for the right hon. Gen- tleman to give way?
Mr. Deputy-Speaker: I called upon the next speaker.
Mr. Gallacher: Courtesy!
Mr. Piratin rose-
Hon. Members: Sit down.
Mr. Piratin: Who is going to make me sit down? Mr. Deputy-Speaker, I was on my feet before the Foreign Secretary sat down. I am not disputing your judgment or your vision as to whether the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Eden) competed with me in being on his feet first. I was on my feet before the Foreign Secretary sat down. May I ask for the privilege of asking him question?
a
Mr. Deputy-Speaker: No. That is not a point of Order, either.
Mr. Gallacher: On a point of Order. Is it not recognised in the House as a common courtesy, of which the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition takes full advantage, that if anyone desires to ask a question of a speaker before he sits down, he is given the opportunity?
Mr. Deputy-Speaker: It may be a courtesy, but it is not a point of Order. 4.53 p.m.
Mr. Eden (Warwick and Leamington): The right hon. Gentleman, in the course of his survey, remarked that our inter- national problems are indeed vast. They certainly are. They are about as vast at present as the circumference of the earth. I will not attempt to follow the right hon. Gentleman in the survey he gave, but I think I might, for the con- venience of the House, mention the sub- jects with which I want to deal. First, I want to say something about Western Europe, particularly in relation to Ger- many and the Ruhr and the French position. Then I want to make some reference to the problem of Italy and her colonies, in respect of which I have a suggestion to offer to the right hon. Gentleman. Finally, I must also make some comment upon the very serious posi- tion in Palestine. I understand that the right hon. Gentleman probably felt, or