§ Q5. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Prime Minister whether, under the dual control system, he was informed about the departure of the Proteus from the supply base in Holy Loch after the United States of America had imposed the blockade of Cuba; and whether he was informed about and agreed to its plan of operations as part of the general arrangement for consultation between the United States and British Governments.
§ Q4. Mr. Warbeyasked the Prime Minister what consultations he had with President Kennedy concerning the removal of the Proteus supply ship from British waters during the height of the Cuban crisis.
§ The Prime MinisterBritish naval authorities are informed whenever it is proposed that Proteus should enter or leave Holy Loch. They were also consulted about the area to which Proteus should proceed when she left Holy Loch on 23rd October.
§ Mr. ZilliacusIs it not still the position of the United States that this country has no right of control or consultation over the actual firing of missiles from the high seas by Polaris submarines, and is that not part of the lack of consultation that was shown in the case of Cuba, and what does the Prime Minister propose to do to remedy the situation?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is quite a different question. The Question was about the sailing of the Proteus, and, naturally, all the undertakings and arrangements agreed to were meticulously adhered to. The hon. Gentleman's other question is about the use of nuclear weapons whether from submarines or land-based American bombers, or by any other means. In that case there is the general understanding, as the House knows, which I had with President Eisenhower and have renewed with President Kennedy, that we would consult one another before there was any question of using nuclear weapons in any part of the world.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesCan the Prime Minister tell us whether the documents relating to the Polaris and the sailing 1403 of the Proteus are kept under careful lock and key in the office of the Civil Lord of the Admiralty, and for security reasons would it not be better to transfer them to the police station at Dunoon?
§ The Prime MinisterI always watch with interest the way in which the hon. Member's mind works. His supplementary questions always seem to pursue the topic of the day.
§ Mr. ReynoldsWill the Prime Minister tell us whether it is to be general practice that at times of acute international tension—which we hope will not recur, but I ask this question in case it does happen—the Proteus will leave British waters? If so, is not this likely to reassure large numbers of people who feel that such a vessel would itself be the subject of nuclear attack?
§ The Prime MinisterI hope it will be general practice in periods of danger, which I hope will not recur, that the forces of the West will be fully prepared.