NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION (NUCLEAR FORCE) (Hansard, 19 December 1962)

§ 4. Mr. Warbey
asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will state the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the proposed creation of a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation or European nuclear force.

§ 11. Mr. Frank Allaun
asked the Lord Privy Seal if, at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Ministerial meeting, Her Majesty's Government will oppose both the proposals for a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation nuclear force and for a further extension of national nuclear forces.

§ Mr. Godber
No such proposals were made at the North Atlantic Council Ministerial meeting. The United States Government have indicated that they will be prepared to consider helping to create a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation multilateral force if their European allies wish. If such a proposal were made a decision would have to be taken in the light of all the circumstances at the time.

§ Mr. Warbey
Although we know that the Government's policy is in a complete state of chaos, may I ask whether the hon. Gentleman will at least give us an assurance that the Government will not contemplate any plan or arrangement which would have the result that Western Germany would share in either the production or control of nuclear weapons?

§ Mr. Godber
As to the question of Her Majesty's Government's plans being in disarray, they would be much more disarrayed if the party opposite were in charge. As regards the position of Western Germany, this will be considered if the matter arises in relation to a N.A.T.O. meeting. There is nothing before N.A.T.O. at the moment, as I have made clear, and I cannot consider hypothetical questions of this kind.

§ Mr. Allaun
Does the hon. Gentleman not agree that any spread of nuclear weapons increases the risk of an accident and also world tension? Would it not be particularly dangerous for the West German generals to control directly or indirectly the bomb, particularly since they have not renounced their claim to the lost provinces?

§ Mr. Godber
I do not think that there is any question here of relinquishing control to any individual nation. That is not the intention of the suggestion at all, and certainly Her Majesty's Government would not be in favour of relinquishing control to any nation. We made that clear and we voted in that sense in the United Nations at the last Assembly.

Mr. H. Wilson
Would the hon. Gentleman make clear whether the suggestion that he has been outlining is for a N.A.T.O. deterrent of the United States and N.A.T.O. nations or is the proposal, which is much canvassed in Europe now, for what one might call a Common Market deterrent, that is, Western European nations only? Will not the hon. Gentleman state categorically that Her Majesty's Government will oppose any such proposal for a West European deterrent as dividing the effectiveness of N.A.T.O. and diverting efforts from the N.A.T.O. activities, and, secondly, as being highly provocative to the Soviet Union if it is felt that Germany is having any part whatsoever in having a finger on the nuclear bomb?

§ Mr. Godber
On this point the position is quite clear. The Question relates specifically to N.A.T.O. The Question is on N.A.T.O. forces and there has been no other one considered. I have nothing to add to what I have said, which is the precise position of Her Majesty's Government in relation to N.A.T.O. in this regard.