§ 48. Mr. Richard Adamsasked the Prime Minister what consultations have taken place with other members of the Commonwealth regarding this country's commitments in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
§ The Prime MinisterThe other Commonwealth countries are kept informed of the defence commitments of the United Kingdom, and are consulted whenever such commitments are likely to be of particular concern to them. Canada is, of course, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
§ Mr. AdamsIn view of that reply, can the Prime Minister make any comment on the observations of the Australian Minister of External Affairs last Friday week, when he complained that that part of the Commonwealth was not kept fully informed of the arrangements made with N.A.T.O.?
§ The Prime MinisterI should have thought that the United Kingdom, in its 30 position as a member both of N.A.T.O. and of the Commonwealth, is in a unique position to act as interpreter of the one to the other.
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that there is a real problem here of how to give countries like Australia and New Zealand some say in the running of N.A.T.O., which, although a regional organisation, is really a world-wide one which will affect the interests of those countries?
§ The Prime MinisterWe have a Secretary of State charged with the duty of keeping the various Commonwealths fully informed on all matters, and of making the general movement of the British Commonwealth of Nations proceed harmoniously.
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that I am not dealing with the question of keeping these countries informed, which I am sure is properly done, but with the more difficult question of associating them with the running of N.A.T.O., whose actions may well concern them?
§ The Prime MinisterThere are many difficulties at the present time in the relations of so many different countries—States separated all over the world—but their truest link is their own cause.