§ 45. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Prime Minister what discussions he had with President Eisenhower on the stationing of the United States Air Force in this country.
§ The Prime Minister (Sir Anthony Eden)None, Sir.
§ Mr. HughesDoes not the Prime Minister think he would be doing his duty to the people of this country if he suggested to the Americans that, when we have plans for evacuating 12 million 1926 people in the event of air raids, it is time that the American bases were removed elsewhere?
§ The Prime MinisterI did not discuss these bases with the President. There was no need to do so. They have been discussed many times before and we are in full agreement about them. They were originally arranged in 1948 under the Labour Government and, so far as we are concerned, they will remain there, hospitably accepted by us so long as they form part of the defence of the free world.