§ 21. Mr. Shinwellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the permission granted to Western Germany by the Western European Union, of which Her Majesty's Government is a member, how many missiles Western Germany will be allowed to manufacture; and what is the nature of such missiles.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydUnder the provisions of Protocol III to the revised Brussels Treaty, Germany has undertaken not to manufacture any long-range or guided missiles other than guided anti-tank missiles and surface-to-air and air-to-air guided missiles for anti-aircraft defence.
The only restriction on numbers is that Germany cannot maintain armaments in excess of the quantity required for its national forces, these in turn being limited by Protocol II of the Treaty.
§ Mr. ShinwellWould not the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that, although the Labour Government agreed to a measure of rearmament for Western Germany, it was never contemplated that Western Germany should either build submarines or be allowed to have these short-range missiles? Is he aware that the Minister of State, in reply to a Question by me last week, said that these missiles had no warheads? What kind of missiles are they if they do not require warheads?
§ Mr. LloydI suspect that what my hon. Friend said was that they had no nuclear warheads. There is a difference, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, between a nuclear warhead and a high-explosive warhead. On the main matter of principle, which I quite agree is an important one, I have been studying what the right hon. Gentleman said at the time that he recommended this policy. He said "subject to certain safeguards". There are certain safeguards in the Brussels Treaty, and it is a matter of judgment with regard to their application.
§ Mr. WarbeyCan the right hon. and learned Gentleman say when he will lay on the Table the text of the revision of the Brussels Treaty permitting Germany to make these missiles?
§ Mr. WarbeyI have asked for it already.