§ 36. Mr. Warbeyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will propose to the North Atlantic Council that no speeches on political matters should be made by the military or civil servants of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation without the prior approval of the Council.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydNo, Sir.
§ Mr. WarbeyIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that, on 27th June, in an interview with the New York Times, General Gruenther expressed considerable scepticism about the prospects of disarmament and added these words:
The Soviets make it clear that they won't stand for control or inspection in any form"?In view of the fact that those utterly mendacious statements are calculated to discourage public belief in the prospects of disarmament, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman take steps in the North Atlantic Council to bring these loquacious generals into line?
§ Mr. LloydSo far as the question of control and international disarmament is concerned, I have yet to learn that the Soviet Union are prepared to accept any satisfactory form of control. On the other matter, I do not think it is desirable that speeches by those servants of N.A.T.O. should be cleared by all the fifteen Governments concerned. I think that they have done very good service by the speeches they have made. The Government are not responsible for what an individual speech contains.