HC Deb 07 May 1952 vol 500 cc365-9
12. Mr. Bing

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is satisfied that the agreements with Western Germany now being negotiated are consistent with the principle that German re-armament should only be permitted if the re-armament of countries of the Atlantic Treaty precede that of Germany; that German units are integrated in the defence forces in a way which would preclude an emergence of German militarism; and that the free agreement of the German people to rearmament has been obtained.

23. Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals he has put forward in negotiations with the West German Government for enabling the German people to express their views on the subject of re-armament.

25. Mr. Donnelly

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how far it is still the policy of Her Majesty's Government to ensure that the re-armament of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries shall precede that of West Germany.

36. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will postpone any further demands for a measure of German re-armament until the German people have had an opportunity of expressing their views on the issue at another election.

Mr. Eden

In December, 1950, the principle of a German contribution to the joint defence of Western Europe was accepted by His late Majesty's Government and all the other N.A.T.O. Governments. I am satisfied that the arrangements now under negotiation for providing for that contribution are consistent with the principles mentioned by the hon. and learned Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Bing). No German units will be recruited until the European Defence Community Treaty has been ratified. Their formation and their equipment will take place within the European Defence Community in accordance with the plans agreed by the North Atlantic Council at Lisbon.

The agreements now under negotiation for a new contractual relationship with the German Federal Republic and for the establishment of the European Defence Community will be subject to ratification by all the parties concerned in accordance with their constitutional processes.

Mr. Bing

Does the right hon. Gentleman by that reply mean that he is in favour of elections in Germany in order to come to a fair and proper conclusion on this matter, and does he consider that the terms which he is putting forward are in accordance with the terms as set forth in the French order of the day as printed in the White Paper?

Mr. Eden

I do not know on what grounds the hon. and learned Member raises the questions of elections in Germany. The present German Government was elected under processes approved by the Allies and is as entitled to respect as any other Government, such as the late Socialist Government, which had a much smaller majority than Dr. Adenauer has today.

Mr. Hughes

Has there been any communication from the Government of the United States about the possibility of a meeting in Berlin with the representatives of the four Governments there about arranging elections in Germany? If so, what has been the attitude of Her Majesty's Government? Can the Foreign Secretary give the assurance that in the coming negotiations he will not play the part of an inverted Mr. Molotov and say, "No. no" when the people of this country want him to say "Yes"?

Mr. Eden

I have a feeling that the people of this country would expect me to express myself as I did just now to the hon. Member below the Gangway opposite: that I am perfectly ready at any time to enter into any reasonable negotiation, but that I am not going to a Palais Rose waste of time like we had last summer.

Mr. Hughes

May I have a reply to the first part of the question?

Mr. Eden

The reply will be issued by the Powers concerned together, and the hon. Member will be surprised to learn that they are in agreement about it.

Mr. Swingler

Is the Foreign Secretary saying that the German people have been consulted about the proposals now being put forward? This is a different situation to 12 months ago. What steps have been taken to discover the attitude of the German people towards these proposals, and how far does the right hon. Gentleman claim that the German people agree to the agreements now being made?

Mr. Eden

The present German Government was elected by the German people, as are other free Governments in other countries of the West. When the previous Government made the agreement last September, to which we are now giving expression, there was no question of challenging the proper representative quality of the present German Government nor am I prepared to challenge that quality any more than the quality of any other Government freely elected by the electors.

Mr. Philips Price

Would it not be an interference in the internal affairs of Germany and also undermine the authority of Dr. Adenauer if we were to refuse to continue negotiations until there was a general election in Germany?

Mr. Eden

I am in full agreement with the hon. Gentleman, and I hope that he will instruct his hon. Friends accordingly.

14. Mr. Leslie Hale

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an assurance that no step will be taken to agree to the re-armament of Western Germany before a debate has taken place in this House upon that subject.

Mr. Eden

The principle of a German contribution to Western defence was accepted by His late Majesty's Government and the other N.A.T.O. Governments in December, 1950, and reaffirmed in the Washington Declaration of September, 1951. As I have already said, the texts of the Agreements with Western Germany to which Her Majesty's Government will be party will be submitted in full to the House before being ratified.

16. Mr. Harold Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now make a further statement on the extent of the West German defence contribution.

34. Mr. E. Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the course of the official negotiations for German rearmament now taking place.

Mr. Eden

I have nothing at present to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Islington, East (Mr. E. Fletcher) on 5th May.

Mr. Fletcher

Will the Foreign Secretary take an early opportunity of making clear to the country exactly what is the additional financial burden that will be cast upon this country by these proposals?

Mr. Eden

I thought I had already made it clear that it is our hope that, until 30th June next year, the financial burden will not be of a serious character. After that, it will be necessary to make a fresh calculation on the basis of the situation as we then find it.

Mr. E. Shinwell

In the meantime, will the right hon. Gentleman consider making a statement on the possible additional burden which will be imposed on the people of this country if that step is not taken?

Mr. Eden

I am deeply grateful to the right hon. Gentleman, and I agree with every word of his supplementary question.

32. Mr. Cyril Bence

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what instructions have been given to Her Majesty's Representatives on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to request a joint meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Defence Community to consider the text of the treaty dealing with the re-armament of Germany; and whether he will arrange for the draft of the treaty to be laid before Parliament before it is submitted to the European Defence Community for ratification.

41. Mr. George Craddock

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will instruct the British representatives at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to request that a joint meeting with the European Defence Organisation be held in order to examine the terms of the proposed treaty with Western Germany and to ensure that it contains no provision which would result in a re-emergence of German militarism.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

No joint meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Defence Community can be held until the European Defence Community comes into existence. The Treaty setting up the European Defence Community will come into force simultaneously with the entry into force of the Contractual Agreement with the German Federal Republic. The question of submitting either that Agreement or the European Defence Treaty to a joint meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Defence Community prior to ratification cannot, therefore, arise. But as soon as the draft of the European Defence Community Treaty is complete, it will be examined by the North Atlantic Council to confirm that it includes, amongst other things, adequate safeguards against the danger of a revival of German militarism.

Mr. Craddock

What steps does the right hon. and learned Gentleman propose to take to influence decisions which are being taken by E.D.C. so as to prevent undesirable features in German re-armament?

Mr. Lloyd

That matter, should it arise, will be dealt with by the North Atlantic Council, who will have a full opportunity of seeing whether those safeguards against the danger which the hon. Member fears are provided for