RUSSIAN VISIT TO BRITAIN

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27832, 3 December 1955, Page 9

RUSSIAN VISIT TO BRITAIN

Commons Discusses Prospects LONDON, December I. The British Prime Minister (Sir Anthony Eden) announced today that tie had set up an inter-departmental committee to help him prepare for the official visit to Britain of the Soviet leaders. Marshal Nikoli Bulganin and Mr Nikita Khrushchev. They are expected in London next April. The committee will be under the chairmanship of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Lord Reading), the Prime Minister told the House of Commons. Sir Anthony Eden made the announcement in reply to a question by Mr George Thomas, a Labour member who asked what arrangements were being made. Mr Thomas asked if the Prime Minister was saying that the recent statements by ttie Soviet leaders in India had in no way altered the British Government’s intention about the visit. “Is he still hopeful of useful results from the visit?” he asked. Sir Anthony Eden replied by quoting a line from Pope’s essay on man: “Hope springs eternal in ttie human breast. . . .”

Captain J. A. L. Duncan (Conservative) urged the Prime Minister to convey to ttie “two gentlemen concerned, through the British Embassy in Mosif they are going to visit us (hey should restrict their language about this country when they are visiting other co"untries.” Sir Anthony Eden replied: “I did extend the invitation on behalf of the Government to these visitors. I think that this country, with its broad democratic intelligence, will be able to handle any situation that might be created by any visitor of any country."

Mr John McGovern (Labour) provoked laughter when he said: “In the event of the visit taking place, will you give a guarantee that all the top refugees of Eastern Europe and the Ealtic States in this country will be allowed to pay their proper respects and give a proper welcome to these two gentlemen?”

There was no repJff. Mr Godfrey Nicholson (Conservative) asked the Prime Minister to see that during the visit India was not accused of having organised the invasion of Poland.

Again the Prime Minister did not reply.