§ 30. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will urge at the Copenhagen Foreign Ministers' Conference that, in order to make agreement at the summit talks possible, the Western Powers should now drop their demand that United Germany must be free to enter the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, and instead signify their agreement to some plan for unifying Germany within an all-European treaty and the United Nations, but outside the rival alliances, with prohibition of nuclear weapons in, and withdrawal of foreign forces from, the territories of Germany, Poland and Hungary, accompanied by appropriate forms of supervision.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydNo, Sir.
§ Mr. ZilliacusDoes the right hon. and learned Gentleman's reply mean that the Government cling to their proposal that a united Germany should be free to enter N.A.T.O.? Does not the Foreign Secretary recognise that, by clinging to that policy they will make themselves responsible for wrecking the summit talks before they have started?
§ Mr. LloydWhat my Answer means is that Her Majesty's Government do not believe in putting forward proposals which they believe would not add to the security of Europe.
§ Mr. BevanWould not it be desirable, also, that the right hon. and learned Gentleman should not commit himself to statements that might inhibit a settlement in Europe?
§ Mr. LloydI do not think that I have committed myself to any statement which might inhibit a settlement.
§ Mr. BevanIs not it a fact that if a statement is made that Western Germany, or a united Germany, must be free 953 to enter into any foreign alliances, this in itself would be an inhibition on any policy of disengagement, including Germany, in Europe? Is not it undesirable to lay that down beforehand as a pre-condition of the conference?
§ Mr. LloydIf the right hon. Gentleman will study the Question and my Answer, he will see that I have not done so. There is no change in Her Majesty's Government's policy on this matter.
§ Mr. D. PriceIs my right hon. and learned Friend aware that if he took up any other position he would, in fact, be committing this country to going against Article 103 of the United Nations Charter regarding interfering with the freedom of a sovereign Government to decide its own affairs?
§ 31. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will, at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Conference of Foreign Ministers, oppose General Norstad's demand that the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's ground forces be raised from 15 to 30 divisions and that Western Germany should be granted nuclear weapons.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydI do not understand the first part of the hon. Gentleman's Question. General Norstad's estimate of his requirements for ground forces has not been increased lately.
In answer to the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. and gallant Friend, the Minister of State on 21st April.
§ Mr. ZilliacusIs not the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that General Norstad has publicly stated that N.A.T.O. ground forces should be raised to 30 divisions from the existing 15? Will he make it clear that, on grounds of expense, if for no other reason, the Government will not accept that? Furthermore, will not the granting of nuclear weapons to Germany now prejudice summit talks and make negotiation difficult?
§ Mr. LloydThere has been no change in General Norstad's requirements. Regarding the question of nuclear weapons for Germany, I advise the hon. 954 Member to study carefully the Answer given by my right hon. and gallant Friend.