§ 48. Mr. K. Robinsonasked the Prime Minister if he will state the precise terms of the agreement between President Eisenhower and himself whereby United States aircraft based in Britain will not become engaged in operations of war without the prior consent of Her Majesty's Government.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made in reply to Questions on this subject on 23rd March last year. I am sending him a copy of this.
§ Mr. RobinsonWould the right hon. Gentleman confirm in addition that this agreement will continue in force so long as the bases exist? Will he also give an assurance that there are no circumstances in which the consent of the Government may be presumed in advance?
§ The Prime MinisterWell, I suppose an immediate, destructive, surprise and treacherous attack with the hydrogen bomb upon this island might possibly be acted upon by our allies in the United States almost immediately without further or prior consultation.
§ Mr. PagetIs not the difficulty that if that happened there would not be any air bases left, and has not the time come when, with regard to our American and Commonwealth partners, our bomber bases ought to be much farther off, where they cannot be surprised, as was Pearl Harbour?
§ The Prime MinisterThose are very special questions which I wonder the hon. and learned Gentleman did not get an opportunity of raising in the last two days of debate.