HC Deb 23 February 1955 vol 537 cc1261-3
26. Mrs. Mann

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the official Soviet proposals on 21st January, 1955, defined free elections as freedom to put forward electoral lists, and also urged national armed forces for Germany; and, in view of the general misconception of these proposals, if he will have them published and make copies of these proposals available to Members in the Library.

Mr. Turton

On the assumption that the hon. Lady is referring to the statement broadcast on 15th January on Moscow Radio, I am having a translation of this statement put in the Library.

Mrs. Mann

Could the hon. Gentleman go a little farther? Quite a number of hon. Members will not avail themselves of this statement. Is he aware that some of us are getting pretty sick of the constant whitewashing of Russia and the presentation to our people that Russia is against the rearmament of Germany? Will he not take steps to let the people of Britain know that the Russian proposals are not against German rearmament; they are against Western European rearmament and they are for national armed forces for Germany?

Mr. Turton

I sympathise and agree with the hon. Lady. I have noted with some pleasure the way in which she made that fact quite clear in a recent issue of the "Daily Herald." I believe that the answer to this Question—and this Question itself—will also serve that purpose. In fact, the broadcast statement did lay down the militarisation of all Germany, as indeed did the Soviet Note of 9th April, 1952. The Soviet Note laid down that there should be national armed forces for Germany. That was nearly identical with the statement in their Note of 10th March, 1952.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Since this broadcast is a very important international document which has been discussed a great deal, would it not be of advantage to print it as a White Paper available for all Members, and might not the Note of 9th April, 1952, be reprinted with it?

Mr. Turton

If it is put in the Library, every hon. Member can read it—

Mrs. Mann

They do not want to read it.

Mr. Turton

—and I also understand that it is published in "Soviet News."

Mr. Noel-Baker

Surely hon. Members will want to take such a document away with them and compare it with previous documents. A White Paper would be obviously a great convenience to Members.

Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewing

Would my hon. Friend consider publishing at the same time a report on the progress made in the rearmament of Eastern Germany since 1948? Many of us are sick of having the problem of Western German rearmament, German rearmament, and East German rearmament completely confused by many Left-wing people in this country.

Mr. Turton

A statement was made, I think last July, showing the progress made in the militarisation of Eastern Germany, but I will bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind.