§ 3.59 p.m.
§ Mr. Frank Allaun (Salford, East)I beg to move,
That this House opposes the division of the world into two great military groups, which is taking us to the brink of war, condemns our subservience to United States foreign policy, which is turning this country into a vulnerable hydrogen-bomb base, desires peace, friendship and trade with both the United States of America and Russia but refuses to fight for either, and urges co-operation with the unaligned nations committed to neither bloc.
§ Mr. G. W. Reynolds (Islington, North)On a point of order. May I point out that, as far as I can see, only one supporter of the next Motion on the Order Paper—my hon. Friend the Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun)—is in the House, but that there is an Amendment to that Motion on the Order Paper? I wonder whether, for the benefit of those who wish to speak on the 1770 subject, you can tell us whether you are likely to call the Amendment in the name of the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for Harrow, East (Commander Courtney), to leave out from "House" to the end and to add:
deplores the division of the world into military groups, reaffirms its belief in the need to co-ordinate our foreign and defence policies with those of the United States of America and our other Allies, and accepts the necessity for reviewing the structure of our defence forces in the light of changing conditions which, while underlining the need for retaining an independent British nuclear deterrent, require a gradual change of emphasis from a continental to a maritime strategy".
§ Mr. SpeakerThe Amendment is not to be called.
§ Mr. AllaunIn the great length of time available to me, I want to put the point to the House that an incident might easily arise tomorrow——
§ Mr. Charles Doughty (Surrey, East)On a point of order. There does not appear to be a seconder of the Motion present. Does not a Motion coming before the House require a seconder?
§ Mr. SpeakerThe Motion does not require a seconder.
§ Mr. AllaunI was saying that an incident might easily arise tomorrow which could lead to a third world war. Within twenty-four hours after that incident we might all be exterminated.
§ Mr. Stratton Mills (Belfast, North)In view of what the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) has said, would it be possible for me to move that the time for the debate be extended by half an hour, Mr. Speaker?