HC Deb 18 December 1956 vol 562 cc1099-100
50. Sir F. Medlicott

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the importance of maintaining friendly relations with the United States of America, if he will give an assurance that military bases will continue to be made available in Great Britain for the United States forces for as long as the mutual interests of Great Britain and the United States of America so require, and that every facility will continue to be given to the United States Army and Air Force authorities so that their forces will have the amenities and be treated with the courtesy due to the representatives of a great ally.

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir.

Sir F. Medlicott

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there has, in fact, been a great deal of criticism of America in recent weeks, with which not all of us on this side of the House concur? Will he take this opportunity of reaffirming that a firm and unbreakable friendship between this country and America remains one of the basic features of British foreign policy?

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

Would my right hon. Friend agree that when the British hydrogen bomb has been manufactured and supplied to the Royal Air Force, with the appropriate bomber types in association, there is then no need for the United States Strategic Air Arm to remain in this country?

Lieut.- Colonel Bromley-Davenport

While everyone regrets any anti-American feeling in this country, are not hon. Gentlemen opposite the last people to criticise, seeing that Socialism was financed by the American Loan and that all the thanks the Americans got from the Opposition was to be called "shabby moneylenders"?

The Prime Minister

On the whole, I think my answer was comprehensive and correct. It was just "Yes".