§ 44. Mr. Thomas Reidasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further progress has been made in the organisation of regional collective security under Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, in view of the recent pronouncement by Mr. St. Laurent, Canadian Secretary of State, advocating a North Atlantic Pact between America and Western Europe, and by the Governor-General of New Zealand, on 23rd June, in the Speech from the Throne, advocating a closer defensive union between New Zealand, Britain and Europe.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Mayhew)I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Luton (Mr. Warbey) on 5th July. We were, of course, very interested to see those parts of the speech from the Throne by the Governor-General of New Zealand and of the remarks made by Mr. St. Laurent to which my hon. Friend refers. As he is doubtless aware, conversations are now going on in Washington between the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada and the Benelux countries. These conversations are at present at an informal and exploratory stage.
§ Mr. ReidWill my hon. Friend press forward with this matter, because it is the chief means of preserving the peace of the world?
§ Mr. MayhewYes, Sir.
§ Mr. WarbeyIn view of the fact that old-fashioned military alliances are not made respectable by relating them to the Articles of the United Nations Charter, will the Foreign Office keep this country out of entanglements, which make our strategic and foreign policy dependent upon the whims of Washington?
§ Mr. MayhewThat certainly does not arise out of this Question.