§ 52. Mrs. Castleasked the Prime Minister what arrangements he has made to be in constant radio communication with the President of the United States of America, in view of the fact that our ally is in a state of instant readiness for war.
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Wednesbury (Mr. Stonehouse) on 15th April.
§ Mrs. CastleIs the Prime Minister aware that, under the "instant alert" system in the United States, the President has to be in constant contact with the Strategic Air Command Headquarters at Omaha and we have been assured that, even when he is playing golf, Mr. Eisenhower is in constant contact by means of a portable radio? Is it not important—[Interruption.] May I have your protection, Mr. Speaker.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The House should listen to the question in silence.
§ Mrs. CastleIs it not important that if the United States is going to war, we should be consulted? In view of that, will the Prime Minister arrange to carry a portable radio set around with him everywhere, including in this House?
§ The Prime MinisterThe fact that our allies are in a state of readiness is, I would have thought, a source of satisfaction. I am sure that they will carry out their obligations, made to Mr. Attlee's Government, repeated to the Government of my right hon. Friend the Member for Woodford (Sir W. Churchill) and since renewed to me, both in the spirit and in the letter.
§ Sir A. V. HarveyOn a point of order. May we have your guidance, Mr. Speaker? To what extent is an hon. Member allowed to criticise the head of a foreign friendly Power?
§ Mr. SpeakerFrom what I could hear of the hon. Lady's question, the only criticism I heard of the eminent gentleman was that he played golf. I cannot 573 myself count that as a derogatory expression.
§ Mrs. CastleI was not criticising the President of the United States. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] I was criticising the Prime Minister for not arranging to be in the same contact with the problem.