Attlee States Britain's Attitude On Proposals For Iron And Steel Pool

Wanganui Chronicle, 15 June 1950, Page 5

Attlee States Britain's Attitude On Proposals For Iron And Steel Pool

Conservative Leader Calls For Full-Dress Debate In Commons

LONDON, June 13.—1 n the House of Commons today the Prime Minister, Mr. Attlee, said his Government wanted to help, not hinder, the Schuman plan for the integration of Europe’s coal and steel industries, but forecast even greater pooling of Western resources under the Atlantic Pact. In this, he said, Britain would be found leading the way. He declared that the best way in which Britain could help the Schuman plan would appear only after negotiations had begun

Directly Mr. Attlee had completed his statement, the Conservative leader, Mr. Churchill, rose to demand a full-dress debate, and he wanted it next week. The Labour Party strategist, Mr. Herbert Morrison, Leader of the House, refused to give this assurance, arguing that to have the debate so quickly would be to discuss the Schuman plan before the House had the full facts. A long procedural debate followed, in which Mr. Churchill made it clear that the Conservatives would pursue their demand for a debate to the bitter end. Members of Parliament, meeting for the first time since the Whitsun recess, crowded into the chamber to hear Mr. Attlee’s statement. Government and Opposition leaders were present in force. Mr. Attlee said the British Government had always made it clear that it was fully prepared to co-operate in the closer integration of the European economy with other governments holding different economic views. He wanted to make it clear that the British Government "must have in mind basic economic needs for the security of the country and the necessity to ensure that the United Kingdom is in a position to discharge its responsibilities in every part of the world.”

Mr. Attlee said that when France first announced the plan it became clear from informal discussions between French and British officials that, while the French Government had not worked out how Its proposals would be applied in practice, its views of procedure for the negotiations were definite. These entailed acceptance in advance of the principles underlying the French proposals. which, as the British Government had already stated, it felt unable to do. Therefore, said Mr. Attlee, the position was clear.

NO ALTERNATTUE. The British Government will be kept regularly informed on the course of the negotiations which will open on June 20 between the French, German, and other Governments. They themselves had initiated studies of the French proposal immediately it was put forward, and those studies will continue. But there is no question ot putting forward any alternative British proposal at the present time. It would not be right to take any step which might be regarded as a diversion or as an attempt to modify the course which the French and other Governments have decided to take. The British Government desires to help, and not hinder in this matter, and the matter in which they can best do so will only appear after the negotiations have begun.” Mr. Attlee said he was sure the whole House would hope that a practical working out of the . scheme would show ways by which the United Kingdom might be able to associate itself with that valuable piece of European co-operation. "Discussion of the French proposal has naturally tended to obscure from view the steady progress which is being made towards greater unity of action among the democracies in the political, strategic, and economic fields,” said Mr. Attlee. “Throughout the last three years continuous effort has been made to build up and consolidate by every means the strength and solidarity of the West. Now, as a result of the recent conferences in London, we are, I believe, about to enter a formative and decisive phase in the organisation of the Atlantic community. This will require by a more effective pooling of resources the surrender in an unprecedented degree by each country, of the ability to do as it pleases. The British Government will be in the forefront of this great endeavour.” Mr. Churchill said he must ask for an early debate, because the position was complicated. There were two versions of Government policy—Mr. Attlee’s given in the House today and the statement issued by the Labour executive yesterday. Mr. Attlee replied: “The Labour Party document is a general statement of party policy. It is not, of course, a statement of Government policy in this matter. Government policy is as I have just stated.” Mr. Herbert Morrison said it would be a waste of time to have a debate without knowing details of the Schuman plan, which he described as “a great idea, which the Government has not rejected out of hand.” Mr. Rhys Davies (Labour) asked who would be the employers of the Britisn miners if the Schuman plan came into being.

Mr. Attlee replied that the question brought out the difficulty of discussing the scheme. “I cannot answer the question because I do not know,” he said. “What we have done is simply So say we should like to see more details before we bound ourselves to something we know nothing about.”