At the 234th meeting of the Council of Western European Union (WEU), held at ministerial level on 25 and 26 October 1963 in The Hague, the delegations discuss the development of East–West relations. The British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Richard Austen Butler, emphasises that relations have improved, but he does not believe that there has been a fundamental change in the basic aims of Soviet foreign policy. Although the United Kingdom is determined to defend the Western position in Berlin, he calls for ongoing dialogue with the Soviet Union with a view to achieving real disarmament. The position of French Foreign Minister Maurice Couve de Murville differs from the UK position with respect to the method that should be used to reach agreements with the Soviets. Couve de Murville believes that détente depends entirely on the USSR, the originator of the Cold War. This is why the French Government has not taken part in the recent East–West negotiations. He also stresses that he has every confidence in his allies not to arrive at any arrangement which would harm Western interests.