§ 30. Mr. Warbeyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that in consequence of the extension of the North Atlantic Treaty area by the Greece-Turkey Protocol, the liability of this country to be drawn into hostilities originating in the Far or Middle East is affected; and whether he will therefore propose to the other parties to the North Atlantic Treaty a Protocol restoring to each party full freedom of action in all cases where armed attack in the Treaty area results from action taken by one of the parties outside the Treaty area.
§ Mr. NuttingThe Greece-Turkey Protocol of October, 1951, extended the North Atlantic Treaty area to cover Greece and Turkey but it did not alter the conditions which would bring into play the obligations of a Party to the North Atlantic Treaty. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise.
§ Mr. WarbeyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the event of the United States being involved in hostilities with Russia through an incident arising in the Far East, the American bases in Turkey, positioned as they are, would be extremely vulnerable to Soviet attack; and in that case, how does he propose that this country should be enabled to escape from its obligations under N.A.T.O. to go to the aid of Turkey under Article 5 of the Treaty?
§ Mr. NuttingThe hon. Member is basing his Question on a completely false premise. If he would study Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty he would see that it is left to the parties to take "such action" as they
deem necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic areain the events foreseen.