§ 6.2 p.m.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.
§ Moved, That the House do now adjourn.—(The Earl of Home.)
836§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEMy Lords, may I take this opportunity to ask the noble Earl the Leader of the House whether he would consider making a statement or giving a Paper showing exactly the treaty obligations which bind the various occupying forces in Berlin—Russian and our own? The matter is becoming rather urgent. I could have put it on the Order Paper, but that would have incurred delay. If the noble Earl would kindly consider the matter, I think it would serve a useful public purpose. I was moved immediately to ask this question by a sentence used by the Home Secretary on Friday of last week, when he said:
If we maintain a firm front, there is no man more frightened of atomic warfare than Mr. Khrushchev ".I think that that was a very unwise remark. I think that the best thing to do is, at any rate, to get the facts, and then we shall know where we stand if the situation worsens, which I hope it will not.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, so long as I am not understood to agree to the issue of a White Paper (because I do not know that a White Paper will be necessary), I will make inquiries to see what facts and information are available, and when I find out perhaps I can communicate with the noble Viscount.
§ VISCOUNT STANSGATEI am grateful to the noble Earl. That is the courtesy which we have long been used to expect from him.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to, and House adjourned accordingly at three minutes past six o'clock.