§ 7. Mr. Swinglerasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence what representations have been made to other Commonwealth and North Atlantic Treaty Governments during the past six months about a more equitable sharing of the burden of defence, particularly in regard to periods of national service and proportions of male populations under arms.
§ 8. Mr. Wiggasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Defence what representations Her Majesty's Government has made to those countries associated with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation who have not yet introduced two-year compulsory military service.
§ Mr. BirchAs far as Commonwealth countries are concerned, there is constant consultation in the field of common defence interests.
In regard to Member Governments of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, periods of compulsory military service and other matters concerning the equitable sharing of the burden of defence are kept under review in the Organisation. No individual representations have been 450 made by Her Majesty's present Government to other North Atlantic Treaty Governments on these matters.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs it not time some strong representations were made on the subject? Would the hon. Gentleman care to tell the House how many of these countries have no universal compulsory service and how many of them have as long as our period of two years? Is he content that this country should bear a disproportionately heavy defence burden?
§ Mr. BirchI think I am correct in saying that the only countries in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation who have no compulsory service are Canada and Iceland. In other cases the period of service varies between 12 and 24 months. The hon. Member will realise that these other countries are sovereign States. As I have said, the matter was discussed within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, and it was also discussed by the T.C.C., "the wise men," before the Conference at Lisbon and again at Lisbon.
§ Mr. WiggWill the hon. Gentleman tell the House why he is trying to gloss this over? Is it not a fact that the only Commonwealth country with any period of compulsory military service at all is Australia, and then it is only for a few days a year, and that the only country inside N.A.T.O. with a period of military service comparable with ours is Belgium? Will he, on behalf of the Government, say definitely to the Commonwealth and N.A.T.O. that the people of this country will not continue with National Service unless the burden is equitably shared?
§ Mr. ShinwellIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there is no equitable sharing of the defence burden within the N.A.T.O. countries, and that for more than 12 months now pressure has been brought to bear on the other N.A.T.O. countries to do precisely what we did—to extend the period of National Service to two years—but that none of them, with the exception of the United States and Belgium, has yet done so and that France refuses to do so? Is there any reason why we should not bring further pressure to bear upon them to do what we have done and to share the burden of defence equitably?
§ Mr. ShinwellIs the hon. Gentleman aware that that answer only conveys the impression that the present Government have done nothing at all? Is he aware that the previous Government, in association with Field-Marshal Lord Montgomery and other military commanders, did everything possible to persuade the other countries to agree to a period of two years for National Service? Has it not been stated frequently by the military commanders that there is no prospect of building up adequate defence in the West unless the other countries agree to a two years' period of national service? Will the Government do something about it?
§ Mr. Ellis SmithDoes not this show how wrong we were to extend the period?
§ Mr. WiggIn view of the very unsatisfactory nature of the reply, and in view also of the unctuous tones and the smirks of the Parliamentary Secretary, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.