Oral Answers to Questions — Germany – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 3 February 1964.
Mr Konni Zilliacus
, Manchester, Gorton
12:00,
3 February 1964
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is still the policy of Her Majesty's Government that German unification should leave a united Germany free to be a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
Her Majesty's Government believe that a reunified Germany must be free to make its own choice.
Mr Konni Zilliacus
, Manchester, Gorton
Why, when the Government insist, in their disarmament discussions, that no measure must be taken which might disturb the balance of power, have they clung for twelve years and are still clinging to a proposal for the unification of Germany on lines which would overthrow the balance of power which the Government know perfectly well is entirely unacceptable to the Soviet Union? Why do not the Government recognise that some form of disengagement is the only basis on which unification by agreement and negotiation can be achieved?
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
I cannot be clearer than to say that were Germany unified we should leave the choice of her destiny to herself.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
