§ Mr. A. Henderson(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make on the meeting of Ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Council, which met in Paris this week.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Winston Churchill)I have no further statement to make at this moment on the work of the Conference in Paris which would add to the very full reports and communiqués which have been published and to the statement which I made on the naval arrangements. If my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary had been here, he would have welcomed the opportunity of giving the House his personal impressions of what has been a most successful Conference. I regret to say, however, that he has been detained by an important business point which has arisen at the last minute, but which in no way alters the general conclusions in respect of the Conference.
§ Mr. HendersonHas the Prime Minister's attention been drawn to the reported statement of General Ridgway to the effect that the 50 divisions which were the target for 1952 will be more like 35 divisions as a result of some of them being under-trained and under-equipped? Does the Prime Minister accept that statement? In any event, will he make it clear that the British divisions in N.A.T.O. are fully equipped and fully trained?
§ The Prime MinisterAs to the last part of the question, I can certainly give that assurance. As to the more general issues involved, it is quite clear that these matters have to be fully discussed when we meet again, but certainly no justice could be done to topics of such wide scope and variegated character in the closing hours of the Session.
§ Mr. ShinwellWhile I recognise the need for security in matters of this sort does the right hon. Gentleman not agree that, in view of the many statements that have appeared in the Press, which have created some confusion in the minds of those who have read them, it would be desirable if the Government would issue a White Paper, or at any rate some clear statement which might help to remove the confusion that now exists? For example, it is suggested that there has been a considerable reduction in the infrastructure programme, which is, of course, of very great importance, and also that the need for vast masses of men is not as important now as it was regarded before. Would it not be desirable to issue a statement on these matters?
§ The Prime MinisterThe right hon. Gentleman's suggestion is helpful, and when the Minister of Defence and the Foreign Secretary return later in the day, I will represent the matter to them so that a statement can be carefully prepared over a few days which will give the full effect, as we see it now, of what has occurred as far as it can be made public, and so that that should be brought out before we meet again—if not before Christmas, immediately afterwards.
§ Mr. ShinwellI am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for what he has said. Will that statement also include some clarification about the Mediterranean Command, because there is still some confusion as to who is to be actually in control and what is to be the nature of the co-ordination processes?
§ The Prime MinisterThe matter is one which affects not only the Foreign Office but, indeed, in bulk the Ministry of Defence; but I will give my personal attention to the matter in order that a full statement can be laid before the House, which can be meditated upon and which we can debate at the first convenient opportunity when we return.
§ Captain RyderCould we also have a full outline or map showing the way in which these commands have been set up?
§ The Prime MinisterIf a White Paper is issued, I see no reason why we should not have a map, but I will see whether that is necessary and whether it would warrant the additional expense involved.