§ 47. Mr. Wyattasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the steps already taken or contemplated by Her Majesty's Government to establish close links with the European Defence Community which are referred to in the Washington communiqué of the three Foreign Ministers.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe steps already taken by Her Majesty's Government to establish close links with the European Defence Community were described by the Prime Minister during the debate on 11th May. The further steps now contemplated are still under confidential discussion with the European Defence Community Powers. I have, therefore, nothing to add at present to the answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State on 13th July.
§ Mr. WyattWhile appreciating that in the present state of the disorganisation of the Government it is very difficult for the acting Prime Minister to know what the Prime Minister actually did say, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is not aware that in that speech he made a very sketchy reference to the European 33 Army, in which he merely related the evasive answers of the previous six months, and that we have now got no further, by the Chancellor's answers, towards learning exactly what the discussions are? Is it the intention of this disorganised Government never to let us know what is being done about the European Army?
§ Mr. ButlerI think I can afford to ignore the remarks of the hon. Member about the disorganisation of the Government because I believe that what we have already achieved is as good as can be possibly expected under the circumstances. But in relation to our proposal about E.D.C. and the further details, as is well known if the hon. Member had studied the reply of my hon. and learned Friend on 13th July, these proposals have been put to six Governments and they have, we understand, been well accepted. When we have got a little further with the confidential discussions it may be possible to give an account of them to the House.