HC Deb 08 November 1954 vol 532 cc839-40
12. Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs under what agreement the German Federal Republic is, or will be, precluded from establishing, maintaining and expanding forces under national control in addition to the forces to be placed under the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, and in addition to the internal defence and police forces which are to be the subject of special agreements.

Sir Anthony Eden

The necessary provisions are contained in Protocol No. II to the Brussels Treaty and the Resolution of the North Atlantic Council to implement Section IV of the Final Act of the London Conference. Both these are included in Command Paper 9304.

Mr. Warbey

As the Protocol to the Brussels Treaty specifically provides for forces under national control in addition to those placed under S.A.C.Eur., and as the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation has to take its decisions unanimously and the German Federal Republic will therefore have a veto power, where is the power to prevent Germany from raising forces purely under national control?

Sir A. Eden

The hon. Gentleman has got it only partially right. The Paris Agreement lays down the forces which Germany should contribute under Article 1 of the Brussels Protocol—there is no dispute about that—except as regards internal defence and police forces. So far as those are concerned, under Article 5 of the Protocol they are to be the subject of special arrangements within our new Western European Union. The Federal Republic will not have any other forces, above those agreed in the Western European Union, for any purpose unless there is unanimous agreement in the N.A.T.O. Council that she should.