§ Q7. Mr. Rankinasked the Prime Minister if the agreement he made with President Kennedy at Nassau for the formation of a multinational North Atlantic Treaty Organisation nuclear force concedes to other participating nations the right extended to Britain in withdrawing their forces when supreme national interests are at stake.
§ The Prime MinisterIn the joint statement which I made with President Kennedy at Nassau, we did not specify the terms under which forces of countries other than the United Kingdom were to be assigned to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation nuclear force. This is a matter for discussion between those other countries and the North Atlantic Council as a whole.
§ Mr. RankinIn view of the lack of definition in that part of the Nassau Agreement, could the Prime Minister tell us whether or not any of the European 1124 N.A.T.O. countries has protested against the possibility of its being denied the same treatment as Britain is getting?
§ The Prime MinisterSo far as I am aware, none.
§ Mr. RankinDoes that arise from the fact that the European N.A.T.O. countries recognise that not only will the multilateral nuclear force be controlled by America, but also the multinational one?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. The hon. Member is making his own deductions.