§ 46. Sir W. Smithersasked the Prime Minister, in view of the North Atlantic Pact agreement designed to preserve our way of life and in view of the Communist technique of infiltration, if he will say what active steps he is taking to ensure that the Atlantic Pact will not, in this country, be sabotaged by subversive Communist activities.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)It is not clear to me what form of sabotage the hon. Member has in mind, but I am in general satisfied that existing measures are adequate to deal with subversive activities from any quarter.
§ Sir W. SmithersMay I ask the Prime Minister whether he will really study a little more—as I do—the Communist Party? Does not he realise his sympathy with Soviet methods—[HON. MEMBERS: "Withdraw"]—his sympathy—[Interruption]—with Communist methods when he was a free lance demagogue and will he realise—
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member should not throw about phrases like "free lance demagogue." It is not in Order.
§ Sir W. SmithersOn a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. May I ask for your protection—[Interruption]— for the protection of the Chair when I am trying to ask a supplementary question, for as much protection as hon. Members on the other side of the House get—
§ Mr. PiratinMay I ask the Prime Minister if he will inquire of the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers) whether each night before he retires to bed he looks under the bed?