§ 6. Commander Courtneyasked the Minister of Defence what changes will be necessary to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Eastern Atlantic Command organisation as a result of decisions taken at the Athens meeting.
§ Mr. WatkinsonSACLANT is considering whether any reorganisation in his Command is needed following the Athens meeting. It is too soon to say what changes, if any, may be required.
§ Commander CourtneyIs it not a fact that in addition to the strike fleet, the Commander-in-Chief, Eastern Atlantic, will now have a force of Polaris submarines operating in his area in war over which he will have no command? Is that not an operationally unacceptable situation in war?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI do not think the facts are quite like that. It really means, as I understand it—but this is being looked at—that this particular force is now an additional commitment and that, in time of war, it would be under N.A.T.O. and co-ordinated with the N.A.T.O. tactical plan.