HC Deb 21 May 1963 vol 678 c184
Q1. Mr. Zilliacus

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give instructions to representatives of Her Majesty's Government at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Conference in Ottawa to oppose proposals for West German participation, direct or indirect, in the proposed multilateral nuclear force in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation or in the proposed multilateral mixed crew surface fleet armed with Polaris missiles.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey) on 14th May.

Mr. Zilliacus

As the Prime Minister's reply on that occasion was simply "No, Sir", may I ask if he does not recognise that to allow Germany any share in the control or possession of nuclear weapons is well-nigh bound to increase suspicion, fear and tension in Europe and make it much more difficult to reach a settlement?

The Prime Minister

So far as I know, there is no proposal to give Germany control of or possession of nuclear weapons.

Sir C. Osborne

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that Western Germany is far safer as regards the Soviet and Western Europe if she is a member of N.A.T.O. than if she is driven on her own to rearm from her own resources?

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir. It has been the whole policy of successive Governments that Germany should be a part of the international Atlantic Alliance.