HC Deb 11 May 1959 vol 605 cc834-6
9. Mr. Zilliacus

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the Government remain committed to the undertaking in paragraph 5 of the Bagdad Pact Council communiqué of 22nd November, 1955, to help defend the territories of the Bagdad Pact countries against Communist subversion, and by the reply of the Minister of Defence in the House on 27th February, 1957, to the effect that it was for the rulers of those countries to decide whether a rising in their territories constituted Communist subversion which Britain was pledged to help them combat by the despatch of armed forces.

Mr. Profumo

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given him by my right hon. Friend on 9th March last.

Mr. Zilliacus

Will the hon. Gentleman clarify that reply by making it clear that the Government will not use military force to support the ruler of a country involved in difficulties with his own population, even if he alleges Communist subversion, indirect aggression, or what, have you?

Mr. Profumo

The hon. Member has asked this Question at least five times and he knows the answer so well that I am led to wonder whether he puts down the Questions for mischievous purposes.

Mr. Bevan

Was it not very improper to impute motives that when hon. Members put Questions on the Order Paper they do so for mischievous purposes?

Mr. Speaker

"Mischievous" is used sometimes in the sense of meaning playful. At other times, it means something bad. The hon. Gentleman is not entitled to impute any unavowed motive to the hon. Member for Gorton (Mr. Zilliacus) in asking these Questions. One has to put the best construction on the utterances of hon. Members, and I thought that perhaps the Minister of State meant it in a playful sense.

Mr. Bevan

In my submission, the Minister of State made his statement in such a way, and it was received by hon. Members behind him in such a fashion, as to show that it was impudent and arrogant.

Mr. Zilliacus

In view of the utter impossibility of ever getting a straight answer to this Question from the Government, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible opportunity.