§ 29. Mr. Warbeyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the policy of Her Majesty's Government in regard to the limitation of the armed forces of an all-German Government which exercises its right not to join the European Defence Community.
§ Mr. WarbeyWill the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in this respect, because the Minister of State last week told me that neither the Soviet Government nor the three Western Governments proposed that a united Germany should have unlimited armed forces? Is the right hon. Gentleman therefore in favour of a restriction on the sovereignty of Germany in respect of armed forces?
Mr. EdenIt seems to me that this is something which we could quite well debate on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the view of Her Majesty's Government is that the best way to control German rearmament lies in German membership of E.D.C. Maybe the hon. Gentleman will help us in that respect.
§ Mr. WarbeyWhen in Berlin the right hon. Gentleman said that the German Government would be free not to join E.D.C. What is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in that case?
§ Mr. WoodburnCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is any prospect of a German Government for the whole of Germany?
§ Mr. Emrys HughesHaving fought two wars in one generation to destroy German militarism, is it a fact that we are now urging Germany to establish conscription?
Mr. EdenI do not think that the hon. Gentleman's description of the discussions in Berlin would receive very wide assent as being accurate.