HC Deb 21 March 1951 vol 485 cc2417-9
47. Mr. Henry Hopkinson

asked the Minister of Defence the composition and the precise duties and powers of the Standing Group in Washington.

51. Mr. Donner

asked the Minister of Defence what are the precise duties and functions of the Standing Group of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Mr. Shinwell

The Standing Group, which is composed of representatives of the Chiefs of Staff of the United States, France and the United Kingdom, is responsible under the general authority of the North Atlantic Ministers of Defence, for the overall direction of the military activities of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The Standing Group also works in Washington in close consultation with a Military Representatives Committee on which are representatives of the North Atlantic Powers not represented on the Standing Group. The Standing Group has, of course, no authority outside the area covered by the North Atlantic Treaty.

Mr. Hopkinson

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider opening negotiations with other interested Powers with a view to extending the sphere of activities of the Standing Group to strategic theatres in other parts of the world?

Mr. Shinwell

It is not for me to open such negotiations.

Mr. Hopkinson

Why not?

Mr. Shinwell

The matter has been under consideration.

Mr. Donner

Would the right hon. Gentleman clarify the position even more, in view of the Prime Minister's statement of 26th February that the Standing Group is in intimate touch with the Combined Chiefs of Staff, a body which does not exist?

Mr. Shinwell

The Combined Chiefs of Staff no longer exists. It has not existed since shortly after the end of the last war. But the Standing Group which, as I have already said, represents the Chiefs of Staff of the respective North Atlantic Treaty countries, is the effective substitute for what was the Combined Chiefs of Staff.

Mr. Eden

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the sphere of operations of the Standing Group is definitely limited, whereas the functions of the Combined Chiefs of Staff at that time were over the whole world? Would he consider whether we should not take the initiative in trying to ensure that there is an organisation which enables effect to be given to an over-all strategic concept and not only an Atlantic concept?

Mr. Shinwell

As the right hon. Gentleman is aware, the Combined Chiefs of Staff, in the last war, consisted exclusively of representatives of the United Kingdom and the United States. The Standing Group is designed to extend over an increased number of countries. It may well be that the organisation will require to be extended still further; but at the moment we are anxious to streamline the existing organisation to make it truly effective.

Mr. Eden

This is rather important. Would the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that what we seek, and what I think is really required, is not a larger number of members of the existing organisation, but that the existing organisation should cover the world so that decisions can be taken with all considerations in mind?

Mr. Shinwell

It must not be assumed that the countries represented in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation are not in consultation with countries outside the organisation. For example, we in the United Kingdom are in association on defence and other matters—but particularly as regards defence, which is now under consideration—with the Commonwealth countries who, with the exception of Canada, are not included in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The same applies to the United States and other countries.

Lieut-Colonel Lipton

Will all these organisations to which reference has been made and their relationships one with the other, be clearly set out in the White Paper which the Prime Minister has promised to give to the House on the subject of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation generally?

Mr. Shinwell

I think that is in contemplation, but I should like to make it clear that this organisation has only been in existence for a matter of 18 months. Obviously, there must be improvisation according to the circumstances.

Commander Noble

To amplify his reply a little more, can the Minister say how a decision would be reached as to the relative efforts that we should make, shall we say, in the Far East or in Europe?

Mr. Shinwell

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is not concerned with the Far East.

Sir R. Glyn

Has the Standing Group anything to do with Pacific defence?

Mr. Shinwell

It has nothing to do with Pacific defence. It is confined to the North Atlantic area. That must be obvious from the designation of the organisation; but that does not preclude any of the countries in the organisation from associating themselves with other countries outside the Atlantic area on matters of defence.