§ 11. Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now propose to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation powers the opening of negotiations with the Soviet Government and other signatories of the Warsaw Pact for an all-European security pact to supersede existing regional treaties.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydNo, Sir. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is a defensive alliance freely entered into by countries of the West and made necessary by the policies of the Soviet Union. Its replacement by an all-European security pact would not provide these countries with adequate security against aggression.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs not the Foreign Secretary prepared to take any diplomatic initiative to try to relax the tension in Europe? Is he aware of the anxiety created by the tension which is heightened by the fact that people now know that there are aeroplanes flying over Europe and carrying the hydrogen bomb? Will not the Government take any initiative to try to reduce the tension? Must not some initiative be taken for negotiation between the N.A.T.O. Powers and the Warsaw Pact Powers? What policy for trying to reduce the tension in Europe do the Government have?
§ Mr. LloydI indicated in an earlier Answer to the hon. Member for Gorton (Mr. Zilliacus) the lines along which I think we can proceed. One thing of which I am certain is that it would be fatal to the prospects of greater security for Europe if we were to weaken the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in Europe.