HC Deb 19 December 1956 vol 562 cc1248-51
5. Mr. Boyd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government will propose to promote greater unity among the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation nations; and if he will support proposals for more frequent meetings of the Ministerial Council, more mutual consultation in the shaping of policy on matters of common concern, and an elected Consultative Assembly.

24. Mr. Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on his recent visit to Paris for the purpose of attending the North Atlantic Pact Council.

42. Mr. John Hall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what agreement has been reached between the members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on the right of individual member countries to take such action as may be necessary to defend their vital interests without prior consultation with their fellow members.

44. Mr. Dudley Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what discussions took place at the recent meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Council on the limitations imposed by membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on the actions of member States when their vital interests are affected; and what conclusions resulted therefrom.

56. Mr. G. Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to make a statement about the recent meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Council.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

The House will have seen the communiqué issued after this meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Council. In approving the recommendation contained in the Report of the Three Wise Men the Council affirmed the importance of consultation on all matters significantly affecting the alliance. It was recognised however, that emergencies might arise in which such consultation would be obviously impossible. National Governments must bear the ultimate responsibility for safeguarding national interests. Subject to that I hope that as a result of this last meeting consultation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Council will be considerably improved.

The new directive for military planning, which is naturally a secret document, should provide for effective and economic use of resources available With regard to the question of an elected consultative assembly, that was not discussed at these meetings.

The Council unanimously approved the appointment of the Belgian Foreign Minister, M. Spaak, as Secretary-General in succession to Lord Ismay. I am sure that the House will agree that this is a most happy choice. I would also like to say how deep are our regrets at Lord Ismay's decision to retire. It is impossible to exaggerate the magnitude of his services to the alliance. The House would have been proud to hear the tributes paid to him by our allies.

Mr. Boyd

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman give us any more information than we have had from the newspapers about his proposal for this grand design for a N.A.T.O. Parliament, including the Council of Europe?

Mr. Lloyd

It is not easy to do that by way of question and answer. I suggested that the Report of the Three Wise Men should be considered against a wider background in which one would seek to get some rationalisation of all the many organisations, authorities and assemblies now being created in Europe.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

May I associate my right hon. and hon. Friends with the tribute which the Foreign Secretary has paid to the great services rendered by Lord Ismay?

Mr. Ramsdell

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that opinion among our friends in Europe appears to be by no means unanimous about the merits of this proposed new assembly? Will he pay particular regard to what emerges from the debates of the Council of Europe at its forthcoming session in January?

Mr. Lloyd

I agree with my hon. Friend. At the moment there is the Council of Europe, the W.E.U. Assembly and the Iron and Steel Community Assembly. I think it necessary to have some sort of rationalisation—to see whether we can have one assembly, and not all these numerous organisations.

Mr. Brown

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that he has only answered Question No. 56. The Minister of Defence, to whom the question was put, seems curiously reluctant to tell us anything about the defence aspect of the talks. The Secretary of State has said that the military directive is a secret document. Can he tell us what sort of direction the military talks in Paris took, and whether our own wide review of defence policy which was promised by the Chancellor comes after the issue of this new directive and, if it does, whether it will override it?

Mr. Lloyd

I should think the two things must proceed pari passu.

Mr. Ellis Smith

What does that mean?