§ 24. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he wilt inform Britain's North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Allies that until there is agreement on a basis of negotiation with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for a European settlement Her Majesty's Government will not accept further military or financial commitments to the Organisation, and that it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that an ally pursuing a policy considered provocative by Her Majesty's Government forfeits the right to British support under the collective defence against unprovoked aggression obligations of the Organisation.
§ Mr. P. ThomasNo, Sir.
§ Mr. ZilliacusWill the hon. Gentleman represent to his right hon. Friend that, by refusing any such way of making defence the servant of foreign policy, he is making foreign policy the servant of defence, in the sense that the Government renounce any initiative in making peace for the sake of preserving the alliance, and are even prepared to be committed to war by allies pursuing policies which we regard as provocative and dangerous? If that really is the Government's policy, are they prepared to ask for a mandate at the next election to blow the people of this country to atomic dust for this kind of policy?
§ Mr. ThomasWith respect, that is a complete distortion of Her Majesty's Government's policy. Our obligations under the North Atlantic Treaty are clearly stated in Article 5 of the Treaty, and I see no reason whatsoever to qualify them.