§ 15. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent he discussed with Archbishop Makarios the question of the stockpiling of nuclear weapons in Cyprus: and what assurances he gave to the Archbishop that the civil population would be adequately defended in the event of a nuclear attack.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe question of stockpiling nuclear weapons in Cyprus or of civil defence against nuclear attack has not been the subject of negotiations during the recent discussions.
§ Mr. HughesDoes the Minister recall that when we went from Suez to Cyprus the then leader of the "Suez Group" said that if one hydrogen bomb was dropped on Cyprus, that would be the end of the base and there would be just a hole in the sea? Why should such important considerations be entirely forgotten when we know that Cyprus is the base for a possible attack on the Soviet oilfields of the Caucasus, with possible retaliation?
§ Mr. MacleodWithout following all the ramifications of that, the hon. Member put a Question to me as to what extent this question was a matter of negotiation in the recent discussions, and the answer to that, simply, is that it was not.