§ 46. Mr. Wyattasked the Prime Minister the nature of the discussions he had with General Eisenhower on the subject of British association with the European Defence Community.
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to the answer which I gave yesterday in this connection.
§ Mr. WyattWould the Prime Minister tell the House that he has not forgotten that it was he himself who thought of the idea of the European Army and that Britain should be a full member of it, and does he not realise that the whole of this scheme is now in danger of collapse and that all Europe is looking 1656 to him and his Government to put Britain into the European Army so that his own idea may survive?
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to the statement which I have made.
§ Mr. ShinwellAre we to understand from the right hon. Gentleman that Mr. Eisenhower made no reference to the subject of the European Defence Community, when only the other day he expressed very strong views about the need for boosting it up? Was not that a subject which might properly have been discussed between the right hon. Gentleman and the President and, indeed, was it not discussed.
§ The Prime MinisterI have already said that I do not propose to give any account of my discussions.
§ Mr. de FreitasCan the Prime Minister tell us—not about the European Army —that he urged upon President Eisenhower the need for an Atlantic Army with components not only from this country, Canada and the United States, but from Germany, so that we could thus have adequate defence against Russia without risking German domination on the Continent?
§ The Prime MinisterI have already answered the Question which is on the Paper so far as one negative on top of another can do it.