§ 28. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Defence if, in his discussions at Athens, he opposed the proposals made by West Germany for giving West Germany, directly or indirectly, control over nuclear weapons or weapons with a nuclear capacity.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThere are no such proposals.
§ Mr. AllaunHas not the Minister noted the public demand by Defence Minister Strauss, made before the Athens conference? Does not he think that it is yet a another step in a dangerous direction if the increasingly powerful German 434 generals are now to be told the details of where the nuclear weapons are stored, and what are their targets and their possible use?
§ Mr. WatkinsonIt is not for me to explain German defence policy in this House, but, as I understand it—and I think I am correct—the Western German Minister of Defence has remained correctly based on his position as a N.A.T.O. ally. In this position he does only what he is asked to do by N.A.T.O. which is to have the means of delivering nuclear weapons, the warheads of which are kept under strict lock and key by the Americans.
§ Mr. FletcherWill the Minister confirm that neither directly nor indirectly will the Western German authorities be given any control over the use of nuclear weapons?
§ Mr. WatkinsonThat is quite a different question.