§ 19. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why he raised no objection to the appointment of General Johann Adolf Graf von Kielmansegg as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Central Europe Commander.
§ Mr. George ThomsonGeneral Kielmansegg was previously Commander of the Allied Land Forces in Central Europe. His appointment followed the usual N.A.T.O. procedure.
§ Mrs. ShortDoes not my right hon. Friend occasionally feel some qualms that 20 so many top jobs in N.A.T.O. are being occupied by former Nazi officers? Does he not feel it distasteful that British troops should be under the control of this man? Did not my right hon. Friend suggest that an officer from another nation should take this job when it became vacant? If not, why not?
§ Mr. ThomsonThe position in regard to this post was that, as part of the streamlining of N.A.T.O. and the economy in expenditure which I hope my hon. Friend will approve, three posts in this command have been turned into one post. In view of the large German contribution to the N.A.T.O. forces in Central Europe, it seemed appropriate that the German Deputy-Commander should take over the single post which was left.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsThe hon. Lady the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Renée Short) suggested that N.A.T.O.'s land commander is a former Nazi.
§ Mrs. ShortHe is.
§ Mr. GriffithsShould not the hon. Lady substantiate that allegation?
§ Mrs. ShortShe can.