§ Q2. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Prime Minister whether the Foreign Secretary's public speech at the Canadian Club in Ottawa on 21st May, on the subject of the retention of British nuclear weapons, represented the policy of Her Majesty's Government.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes) on 28th May.
§ Mr. ZilliacusAs the reply was "Yes", perhaps the Prime Minister could elaborate by explaining why he authorised his Foreign Secretary to diminish or demolish his own stock argument for an independent British deterrent by saying that we did not need it for fear of being left alone in a crisis by our allies, nor to acquire prestige, namely, greater weight in the counsels of nations? Why did he then allow him to put forward the Alice in Wonderland argument that we must have an independent nuclear deterrent because of the danger of the idea spreading to other countries? Finally, would the right hon. Gentleman not consider issuing an authorised version to his colleagues for telling the tale to the public instead of creating confusion by allowing them to ad lib in this way?
§ The Prime MinisterWe had a number of Questions and Answers on this subject the other day. We have had long debates on it, and I do not think I can add to it by further question and answer.