§ 36. Mr. Harold Daviesasked the Minister of Defence if he will seek information from the General Secretary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on the policy of the Organisation in relation to its official publication "General Military Review", in view of the nature of the article in the issue for October, 1957, by Captain D.J. Goodspeed, advocating judicious assassination; and if he will withhold further grants to this organisation until satisfactory guarantees about the policy in regard to this publication are obtained.
§ Mr. SandysThis is an independent publication for which N.A.T.O. has no responsibility.
§ Mr. DaviesIf N.A.T.O. has no responsibility, has not the Minister or this Government some control, due to the fact that Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer, General Norstad, Commander Speidel, and most of the fifteen leading N.A.T.O. commanders are on the Committee of Patronage, and that General Twining says he is honoured to be upon it? Is it now part of our policy to use the coup d'etat as a method of military tactics during peace, and does not the Minister think it is foolish, cruel and unkind to Eastern Europe to try to start subversive movements and then leave them adrift because no great Power will go to their help for fear of a Third World War? Will he please put that point forward to the writers of irresponsible articles such as this?
§ Mr. SandysI believe I am right in saying that many hon. Members have agreed to be patrons of all sorts of societies and organisations about which they know very little. I have just glanced at the article, and I am reassured to read in it that, in the opinion of the writer, democratic politicians are not worth assassinating.
§ Mr. DaviesIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment at the first opportunity.