§ 17. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Lord Privy Seal what proposals have been made in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to provide West Germany, either directly or indirectly through the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, with nuclear weapons or with weapons with a nuclear capacity and if he will state the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to such proposals.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. D. Ormsby Gore)As my right hon. Friend explained to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) on 26th October last, German forces are already equipped with the launching vehicles for certain nuclear weapons under agreed North Atlantic Treaty Organisation plans. There are no proposals for supplying nuclear warheads, which are in United States custody.
§ Mr. AllaunSince Generals Heusinger and Speidel now hold two of the three key posts in N.A.T.O., does not the Government's policy as outlined in yesterday's White Paper indirectly and in fact hand over control of certain nuclear weapons to the West German generals? How can the Minister of State be sure that control of the warheads will not land in their hands, since in a time of emergency the warheads must be kept near the weapons?
§ Mr. Ormsby GoreThis arrangement was agreed as long ago as 1958, was announced to the House, and has been debated on many occasions. I do not, as the hon. Gentleman suggests, regard the appointment of these particular gentlemen as increasing the risk that the Germans might possess nuclear weapons of their own. As the hon. Gentleman knows very well, United States legislation does not allow nuclear warheads to be out of their custody.
§ Mr. GaitskellCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the nuclear warheads remain under the custody of American forces or not?
§ Mr. Ormsby GoreYes, I believe that is the case.