§ 16. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Minister of Defence whether he will give an assurance that compulsory military service will not be restored, nor will National Service men be used, to help the Governments of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Central Treaty Organisation and South-East Asia Treaty Organisation, to put down internal subversion in their territories.
§ Mr. ProfumoI have been asked to reply.
The rôle of Her Majesty's Forces, whether National Service or Regular, remains to fulfil the United Kingdom's treaty commitments and to protect British rights and interest throughout the world. Her Majesty's Government have no intention in present circumstances of re-introducing National Service.
§ Mr. ZilliacusIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that on 18th October, the Lord Privy Seal told the House that
the presence of Western troops in Western Germany is … a very important guarantee against internal subversion."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 18th October, 1961; Vol. 646, c. 227.]Is he further aware that under C.E.N.T.O. and S.E.A.T.O., we are pledged to go to the assistance of Governments when they declare that a popular rising in their territory constitutes internal subversion against which they need help to defend themselves? Finally, is the Minister not aware that these policies of armed intervention in the internal affairs—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."]—of other countries constitute a violation of the United Nations Charter by aggression and could provoke a world war? Will the right hon. Gentleman explain—[Interruption.]—why the taxpayer should spend £1,700 million a year for this kind of thing—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. ProfumoIt seems to me that that has nothing to do with the Question on the Order Paper, but I am glad that the hon. Member has got it off his chest.