§ 45. Mr. Beswickasked the Prime Minister if, in view of the continued practice of senior North Atlantic Treaty Organisation officials of making public speeches of a politically controversial character, he will cause representations to be made to the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation that all such officials conform to the code in this regard laid down for Service officers and civil servants in this country.
§ The Prime Minister (Sir Anthony Eden)No, Sir. I am confident that the senior officials of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation are fully aware of the need for observing discretion in their public speeches.
§ Mr. BeswickDoes the Prime Minister really mean that senior officials observed discretion on the very eve of the Geneva talks, when both Field Marshal Montgomery and Lord Ismay said that no matter what Mr. Molotov might say at Geneva, he could not be trusted?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think that those were the words they used. Generally speaking, I think that officials of N.A.T.O. have used discretion in what they say. It is quite true that in some countries, such as ours, there are different arrangements about what shall be said by military spokesmen than there are in other countries, but in an international organisation the rules that may apply to one country do not necessarily apply to all.
§ Mr. BeswickIf we in this country have rules which, according to the Prime Minister—and I agree with him—are slightly higher than those existing elsewhere, have we not a duty to try to raise the general standard of international conduct in these matters? Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that some of the remarks by Field Marshal Montgomery and Lord Ismay were extremely offensive?
§ The Prime MinisterAs far as Field Marshal Montgomery's speech was concerned, I thought it was a stimulating one as regards military organisation. I do not think anyone felt that the speeches did any particular harm.