HC Deb 14 May 1956 vol 552 cc1632-3
16. Mr. George Craddock

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs with which countries Her Majesty's Government have concluded alliances, treaties or pacts of mutual defence at present in force.

Mr. Nutting

As the list is somewhat long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Craddock

Is the Minister aware that the United States has agreements with 45 countries? Since the United States is our principal Ally, I should like to know whether we are committed in any difficulties which might arise with the 45 States. If two of the 45 Powers declared war on each other, on which side should we fight?

Mr. Nutting

I think the hon. Member had better sort out that rather involved supplementary question and put it on the Order Paper.

Following is the list:

LIST OF ALLIANCES, TREATIES OR PACTS OF MUTUAL DEFENCE TO WHICH HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT ARE PARTIES AND WHICH ARE AT PRESENT IN FORCE

I. BILATERAL
Country Date Instrument
France 4.3.1947 Treaty of Alliance and Mutual Assistance.
Jordan 15.3.1948 Treaty of Alliance.
Libya 29.7.1953 Treaty of Friendship and Alliance.
Portugal 16.6.1373 Treaty of Peace and Alliance.
United States of America. 27.1.1950 Agreement on Mutual Defence Assistance.

II. MULTILATERAL
Date Instrument
13.10.1939 Treaty of Mutual Assistance between United Kingdom, France and Turkey.
24.10.1945 Charter of the United Nations.
17.3.1948 Treaty of Collaboration and Collective Self Defence [as modified and completed by the Protocol signed on 23.10.1954] between United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
4.4.1949 North Atlantic Treaty between United Kingdom, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and the United States of America [with Protocol of 27.5.1952 on the accession of Greece and Turkey and Protocol of 23.10.1954 on the accession of the Federal Republic of Germany].
8.9.1954 South East Asia Defence Treaty between United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, France, the Philippine Republic, Thailand and the United States of America.
5.4.1955 (date of Her Majesty's Government's accession). Bagdad Pact between United Kingdom, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and Turkey.