HC Deb 05 May 1952 vol 500 cc14-7
25. Mr. John Hynd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the terms of the protocol it is proposed to add to the North Atlantic Treaty for the purpose of extending the guarantees under that Treaty to members of the European Defence Community, and why, in the light of this proposal, a separate British guarantee to European Defence Community countries was given.

Mr. Eden

The terms of the protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty which will extend the guarantees under that Treaty to members of the European Defence Community are still under discussion between the Governments concerned.

Her Majesty's Government's offer to conclude a separate treaty with the members of the European Defence Community was made in response to a request from the E.D.C. Conference that H.M. Government should enter into a formal treaty relationship with the Community. As I said in my statement to the House on 21st April, the commitments in this treaty involving both sides last as long as the United Kingdom remains a member of N.A.T.O.

Mr. Hynd

Can the Foreign Secretary tell us whether a similar request was made to the American Government, and whether, in view of the fact that it appears desirable, from the point of view of the E.D.C. countries, that a direct guarantee should be given by this country, is it not equally important that a similar guarantee should be given by America?

Mr. Eden

The position, so far as we are concerned, which is all I am answerable for, is, as the hon. Member knows, that the late Government entered into a series of engagements under the Brussels Treaty with a number of these countries. What they have asked for is that we should extend collectively to the E.D.C. the undertakings we had in respect of the Brussels Treaty, in exchange for which we get counter-guarantees which would not otherwise be available.

Mr. Hynd

Will the Foreign Secretary answer the first part of my supplementary question? Was a similar request addressed to the American Government by the E.D.C. countries?

Mr. Eden

I am not aware that there was one. The request to us was made on the basis of our Brussels Treaty engagements.

Mr. Shinwell

Is it fair to ask this country to accept obligations of this kind unless we are assured that we may be fortified, in the event of trouble arising by the United States?

Mr. Eden

The right hon.Gentleman must be aware that the Brussels Treaty was negotiated by a Government of which he was a Member. It is under that engagement, which was entered into by the late Government, that we are acting.

Mr. Shinwell

Since the right hon.Gentleman has challenged me, may I ask him if he is aware that the Brussels Treaty was agreed to before N.A.T.O. was established, and since N.A.T.O. has been established and is expected to bear the obligations associated with that organisation, why should they not do so now?

Mr. Eden

When the right hon. Gentle. man joined N.A.T.O. he did not cancel the Brussels Treaty, which is still in force.

Mr. Hale

Is it not a fact that this House has constantly been informed that Western Europe is completely indefensible without American help, and does not this mean that British troops are now committed to the defence of Western Europe, possibly without American help?

Mr. Eden

The duration of this obligation is the same as the duration of N.A.T.O.

31. Mr. Snow

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state the number of joint meetings of the Councils of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Defence Community which the British representative has attended, the date of the last such meeting which the British representative attended; and when it is proposed that the next meeting should be held.

Mr. Eden

No such meetings have been held because the European Defence Community does not yet exist.

Mr. Snow

Regarding any future meeting that might take place, will the right hon. Gentleman give explicit instructions to any British representative who may attend that under no circumstances what-soever would any British soldier in the future have to take orders from an ex-Nazi official or military official?

Mr. Eden

I think the hon. Member should put that on the Order Paper. It is a hypothetical question. We are not members of the E.D.C., as he knows.

Mr. Snow

While it may be a hypothetical question, surely the right hon. Gentleman will agree that it is also a practical question. There is a substantial body of public opinion in this matter which views with a great deal of concern the tendency to have a rapprochement with certain elements in German life.

Mr. Eden

The only people I know who intend to use the Nazis today are the Government of Soviet Russia.