§ Q6. Mr. M. Footasked the Prime Minister if he will consult President Kennedy with a view to a joint Anglo-American declaration that neither Power will, jointly or independently, initiate nuclear warfare.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. The purpose of the deterrent would be nullified if a potential aggressor were given prior notice of what he could do with impunity.
§ Mr. FootHas the Prime Minister had an opportunity of studying the statement made just over a fortnight ago by the United States President, in an interview with a highly respectable journalist—Stewart Alsop—in which the President said that he must retain the right of the West to use nuclear weapons first in certain circumstances? Does not the Prime Minister think that that is a very grave statement? Do the British Government agree with it? Does not the Prime Minister's reply mean that he agrees with the President in that statement?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think that it is a very grave statement. It would be much graver if I said, "Oh, well, you can conquer Germany and take France. Italy you can have, and of course you can occupy Belgium and Holland. We might object to your having the south of England, but you can have all the rest." If we give prior notice to an aggressor of what he can get away with, we take away all the purpose of the deterrent.
§ Mr. FootCan we therefore take it—if we translate those words—that the Prime Minister agrees with the proposition that the Western Powers must retain the right to use nuclear weapons first? Has he also studied the reactions of Germany to the statement by the American President? As reported in The Times a week ago, the Germans regard that statement as a matter of major importance. Was this statement by the American President made after consultation with the British Government, or 1137 did the President merely assume that anything he said the British Government would support?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. The President's statement is on the lines of others which have been made many times. Surely it is common sense to say that there must be a doubt. The aggressor must not be given am assurance in advance that he can do certain things with impunity.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesSuicide is not common sense.
Mr. WilsonDespite the Prime Minister's vehemence, did not he, last autumn, applaud the reported statement by President Kennedy that the West would not use nuclear weapons first? Did not the Prime Minister say on that occasion how much he agreed with Mr. Kennedy?
§ The Prime MinisterI have the President's words here, and they are very similar to the words we have used. He said that it has always been clear that in such a context as a massive conventional attack on Europe which would put Europe in danger of being overrun the West would have to prevent such an event by all available means. It is that statement which I think will prevent the over-running of Europe from taking place.
§ Mr. GrimondWill the Prime Minister confirm that, as part of the policy of the pause—which is the official policy of the West—it is the intention of the West to meet a conventional attack on the enforcement of the pause with conventional weapons only?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, but that is the difference between the enforcement of the pause and being over-run.
§ Mr. FootOn a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Prime Minister's reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.