§ 43. Mr. Warbeyasked the Prime Minister whether he will publish the terms of the agreement with the Government of the United States regarding joint control of the employment of United States forces stationed in the United Kingdom.
§ The Prime MinisterAn understanding was reached between the United 228 Kingdom and United States Governments in October, 1951, during Mr. Attlee's Premiership under which the use in an emergency of bases in this country by United States forces was accepted to be a matter for joint decision by the two Governments in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the time. As I told the House on 12th December, 1957, this understanding depended upon no formal document, but was accepted as a mutually satisfactory arrangement. It was subsequently confirmed in the joint statement issued by my right hon. Friend the Member for Woodford (Sir W. Churchill) and President Truman in Washington on 9th January, 1952.
§ Mr. WarbeyIs the Prime Minister aware that what we should like to know is whether under this agreement the British Government are in a position to forbid the use of these bases for activities of a provocative or risky character? For example, can the Government veto the use of the bases for aerial reconnaissance flights over the Soviet Union or for patrol exercises and patrol flights of aircraft carrying nuclear weapons?
§ The Prime MinisterWith regard to the second part of the supplementary question, it was all explained in great detail, I think, in about February, 1958, and it has been several times put forward to the House.
With regard to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, while it is perfectly true that what I would call the original agreement made by Mr. Attlee and confirmed by my right hon. Friend the Member for Woodford (Sir W. Churchill) referred to the use of the bases in an emergency, I think we have sufficiently close relations to cover the point which the hon. Gentleman has in mind.
§ Mr. WarbeyWould the Prime Minister say that such an action as the sending of an aircraft on an aerial reconnaissance flight over the Soviet Union would be regarded as an emergency within the terms of the agreement?
§ The Prime MinisterIt would depend on the circumstances.
§ Mr. HealeyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that evidence has already been given to a United States Senate Committee that U2 aeroplanes have 229 flown on reconnaissance flights from Lakenheath aerodrome in Britain? Had these flights the approval of the British Government? If not, what protest has he made?
§ The Prime MinisterIf that question is put on the Order Paper, I will do my best to answer it. I have not seen the Report of this Committee. If my attention is called to this matter, I will certainly look at it.
§ Mr. HealeyIs the Prime Minister aware that I put this precise Question on the Order Paper to him and that he transferred it to the Secretary of State for Air who, in a Written Answer—the Question was not reached—said that he was not prepared to give any information on this matter? Will the right hon. Gentleman come clean with the House on this, because there is great feeling in the country?
§ The Prime MinisterIf the Question is put again to me, I can only answer in the terms of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air.
§ Mr. HealeyIn that case will the Prime Minister not mislead the House by pretending that he is prepared to supply information on it when in fact he is not?
§ The Prime MinisterI was not aware of the precise circumstances of this. If the hon. Gentleman wishes to make offensive remarks to me, I will answer him back. I do not intend to give any answer without reflection and without seeing the Question on the Order Paper.
§ Mr. HealeyIf the right hon. Gentleman is not aware of what is happening in his private office, and of what the Government are doing in disarmament negotiations, what is the purpose in his holding his office any longer?
§ The Prime MinisterIf a Question of this kind is raised, I will see it in writing before I answer it. In this case, I transferred the Question, as I understand it, to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air, who has answered it. It was rather disingenuous of the hon. Gentleman not to have said so when he asked the supplementary question.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerDo we understand that U2 flights have taken place from this country and that the Prime Minister was unaware of it?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. If the right hon. Gentleman will put down a Question on a matter of this kind I will answer it. It is very well known that on a matter of this kind I am entitled to see the Question and to answer after consideration, when I have seen it.
§ Mr. GaitskellWill the right lion. Gentleman give an undertaking that if a Question is put down to him on this matter it will not be transferred to another Minister?
§ The Prime MinisterThis was a routine transfer. I cannot honestly follow every Question put down on the Order Paper. In my private office, Questions are transferred every day. If the Leader of the Opposition—or any other Member, now that my attention has been called specially to it—puts down a Question in these or any other terms, I will answer it. But the right hon. Gentleman must know that Questions are transferred backwards and forwards and I am not always consulted on every point. Now that my attention has been called to it, if this Question is asked I will do my best, after reflection, to answer in what I believe to be the best interests of the country.
§ Sir A. V. HarveyWill my right hon. Friend also inquire whether or not the United States aircraft flew from this country in the days of the Labour Government? We should like to know.