§ 36. Mr. Chetwyndasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what agreement has been reached with the Federal German Government about the payment of support costs for British forces in Western Germany.
Mr. AmoryI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Paymaster-General to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes) yesterday.
§ Mr. ChetwyndBut will not the Chancellor be a little more forthcoming? Is there not some personal symbolic significance for him in the figure of £50 million which we are trying to get from the Germans for the upkeep of our troops? Would he not then be in a better position in the dispute over £50 million at home? In view of the fact that German defence expenditure will be only about a quarter of ours in the coming year, will he not be as tough with them as the Prime Minister was with his predecessor and make it clear that unless we get some of these support costs we shall have to review some of our commitments in Germany?
Mr. AmoryI must ask the hon. Member to accept my view that while this matter is under negotiation by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation it would not be helpful if I said anything more.
§ Mr. BevanIs it not a fact that the difficulties in which the Government find themselves are the consequences of entering into a treaty for the maintenance of troops in Western Germany without at the same time introducing any clause at all guaranteeing a German contribution towards their costs? Did not we remind 197 the Treasury and the Prime Minister of the foolishness of doing so at the time?