§ Q6. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Prime Minister whether, on visiting President de Gaulle, he will propose a joint declaration to the effect that no part of Germany should participate in any way in the control of nuclear weapons, whether in a French, British, European, Atlantic or multilateral nuclear force.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. The control of nuclear weapons within the Atlantic Alliance is a matter for the Alliance as a whole, not for discriminatory bilateral declarations.
§ Mr. ZilliacusIn view of the fact that President de Gaulle has already taken a stand on this matter which is exactly in line with the Labour Party's policy before the election as outlined by my right hon. Friend, will not the Prime Minister seize this opportunity to reaffrm that position jointly with President de Gaulle?
§ The Prime MinisterI was not aware that the position of President de Gaulle was similar to the position of the Labour Party on nuclear questions. I thought that de Gaullists were found among certain right hon. Gentlemen, but not all right hon. Gentlemen, opposite. As to Germany or any other non-nuclear Power participating in nuclear weapons to the extent of their having any control at all in the firing of those weapons, this was fully dealt with in the debate on 16th and 17th December last in full accordance with the line always taken by this party before and since the election.
§ Sir C. OsborneWill the Prime Minister tell the House how many of his supporters support the hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Zilliacus) in demanding that the policy of the Government shall be the same policy as the Labour Party held before the election?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that my hon. Friend is nearly as lonely as the hon. Member.