HC Deb 14 July 1959 vol 609 cc208-10
46 and 47. Mr. Beswick

asked the Prime Minister (1) to what extent during the course of his visit earlier this year to the United States of America he discussed with President Eisenhower the procedure to be followed before the command is given for the operational use of United States nuclear forces stationed on United Kingdom territory: (2) in view of the high state of readiness in which United Kingdom-based nuclear forces are now maintained, what further steps he now proposes to take to ensure that the existing machinery for obtaining the necessary positive decision from Her Majesty's Government for the use of such forces, is sufficiently speedy for such purposes.

The Prime Minister

With regard to my discussions with President Eisenhower, I have nothing to add to the account I gave to the House on 25th March. It would not be in the public interest to give the House details of our procedures in these matters. But I believe them to be satisfactory.

Mr. Beswick

What sort of democracy does the Prime Minister think this is if we are not allowed to know the arrangements under which one day we may be called on to commit suicide? If there is a satisfactory workable arrangement, will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what it is?

The Prime Minister

I should have thought it was quite clear that it would not be in the public interest to go into great detail about the processes and procedures which we should follow. Successive Governments have been satisfied with these procedures and I regard them as satisfactory and the right ones to have.

50. Mr. Warbey

asked the Prime Minister what is the territorial extent of the Anglo-United States double veto on the use of nuclear weapons.

The Prime Minister

I presume that the hon. Member is referring to the understanding on the operational use in an emergency of bases in this country by United States forces. This applies to all bases in this country on which United Slates aircraft may be stationed at the relevant time.

Mr. Warbey

Has the Prime Minister taken account of the fact that so long as American nuclear weapons and bases are located in this country it is quite possible for the people of Britain to be obliterated as the result of a nuclear war arising out of the use of nuclear weapons located, say, in Formosa? Has the Prime Minister given any thought to the political problems arising out of this situation? What answer has he and his party to this problem?

The Prime Minister

I was asked the territorial extent of the so-called "double veto" on American aircraft on British bases, and I have given a reply. They are under the control both of Her Majesty's Government and of the American Government. The policy of having these bases is one which has been pursued now by successive Governments for a long period, and I believe that it commends itself to the majority of the House and to the country.

Mr. Beswick

Would the Prime Minister be good enough to look at one aspect of this matter again? He has repeatedly said that the arrangement under which Britain has a veto on the use of these weapons has been in use for some time under successive Governments, but does he not appreciate that the character of these weapons has changed very considerably since the days of the Labour Government and that there now does not appear to be time for consultation between Governments? Will he tell us how this difficulty is met?

The Prime Minister

If the hon. Gentleman will reflect, he will realise that the circumstances—which we hope will never arise—are those which would, in our view, permit of the arrangements which we have ourselves made and indeed have inherited from our predecessors.

Mr. S. Silverman

Whatever Her Majesty's Government—this Government, the previous Government, or any other—may have agreed to in the past, may I ask the Prime Minister to address himself to the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey) in his supplementary question? Is it not clear that if the double veto extends territorially only to air bases in the United Kingdom there is no protection at all, and that the agreement does not go anything like far enough, since the consequence of warfare initiated elsewhere would be a nuclear attack upon this country?

The Prime Minister

That is a situation which has always applied. I think that very close co-operation between the British and American Governments is therefore all the more important and should be pursued by all British Governments in these difficult and dangerous times.