§ 11. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister for Defence whether he will give an assurance that, under the Final Act of the Nine-Power Conference and the detailed arrangements consequent thereto, British troops will at no time be required to serve under German officers.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanThis question cannot arise at present, but the formations under SACEUR'S command will be an integrated force. In due course German officers will no doubt hold such higher posts as SACEUR deems appropriate.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonAmid all that verbiage, does this answer mean that British troops will serve under German officers?
§ Mr. MacmillanIntegration, as the hon. and gallant Member knows, will not be at a lower level anyway than division, probably not below corps level, and perhaps not even below army level. Therefore, that very much restricts this possible field. But I must frankly admit that it is not possible to combine two opposite principles, one of integration, which is often pressed upon us, and the other of insularity.