§ 33. Mr. Bevanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations have been received by the Council of Western European Union from the Federal Government of Western Germany regarding the lifting of the ban on the German manufacture of missiles.
§ Mr. BevanIs not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the other day—I think it was 5th December—a spokesman at Bonn made a statement to the effect that the Federal Government were going to ask for certain co-operation with France and Italy and the making of nuclear weapons would soon be put in hand and they would be asking 757 the British Government to agree? If that request is made, are we going to agree?
Commander NobleReferring to the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's question, the Council of Western European Union amended Article 4 of Protocol No. III of the revised Brussels Treaty on 9th May, 1958, in order to permit the Federal German Government to manufacture guided anti-tank missiles. The Council of W.E.U. has received no other representations from the German Government about the manufacture of missiles.
§ Mr. BevanIn view of the fact that the other day the Foreign Secretary made a very great point of the fact that the nuclear weapons in Germany were under American control and no other control whatsoever and that the Germans had entered into a guarantee not to make nuclear weapons, do we understand that if such a request is made it might be acceded to without this House being told anything about it?
Commander NobleI think that the right hon. Gentleman is mixing up nuclear weapons and missiles. It is laid down in the Treaty of Brussels that the Federal Republic may not manufacture nuclear weapons. If they wish to manufacture certain types of small missiles, they have to apply through the channels which I have just outlined.