§ 12. Mr. Parkinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when it was decided, as announced by a Foreign Office spokesman to the French Government at Christmas, that the policy of Her Majesty's Government was that Germany should be rearmed in any case, irrespective of any guarantees or alliances that could be arranged.
§ Mr. TurtonThe Foreign Office statement of 24th December did not say that Germany should be rearmed irrespective of any guarantees or alliances that could be arranged. The Question therefore does not arise.
§ Mr. ParkinWould it be possible, when next bullying the French Government—if any—in this matter, for the communications to be made in a more normal manner than they appear to have been made last time?
§ Mr. TurtonThe statement made in this case was that the rejection of the Paris Agreements
would not mean that German rearmament would not take place. The issue is not whether the German Federal Republic will rearm, but how.The need for a West German contribution to Western defence was accepted by all the N.A.T.O. Governments, including the Labour Government of the United Kingdom in 1950.
§ 13. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what additional formalities must now be completed before the agreements relating to German rearmament are finally ratified by Her Majestys' Government.
§ Mr. TurtonThe only formal step now required before ratification by deposit of the Instruments is their signature by Her Majesty The Queen. The necessary documents are being prepared for signature.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonThe news that the Paris Agreements have not yet been ratified by Her Majesty's Government will be welcomed by very many people. Does the Joint Under-Secretary agree that recent events in France and the shift of opinion in Germany make the future of these agreements rather doubtful, and will he, in those circumstances, take advantage of the breathing space so provided to institute four-Power talks.
§ Mr. TurtonNo, Sir.