HC Deb 05 February 1958 vol 581 cc1189-90
44. Mr. Hale

asked the Minister of Defence how many United States armed forces and how many United States citizens, related to or employed in an auxiliary capacity to the armed forces, were stationed in Great Britain at the last most convenient date for computation.

The Minister of Defence (Mr. Duncan Sandys)

About 36,000 members of the United States armed forces are stationed In this country, together with about 500 United States civilians employed in an auxiliary capacity. I have no precise information about the number of their relatives here.

Mr. Hale

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that, while we greatly appreciate the help of our American allies in the years that are past and the very high standard of conduct of their troops here, a growing body of opinion is coming to the conclusion that their presence now adds to our difficulties rather than detracts from them and adds to the danger to this country, and a growing body of opinion finds it difficult to understand the attitude of the Germans to our troops there in relation to our attitude to American troops here?

Mr. Sandys

All I can say is that the strength of the United States Air Force and its dispersal around the world, including its bases in this country, are undoubtedly the most decisive factor today for the preservation of peace. If this involves some inconvenience, I think we have got to put up with it.