§ 18. Mr. Channonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the German Minister of Defence about the future of the British Army of the Rhine.
§ 44. Mr. Blakerasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about his recent consultations with the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bonn.
§ Mr. HealeyThe details of my talks with Herr von Hassel are confidential but I am, with permission, making arrangements for the communiqué which was issued to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. ChannonDoes not the Secretary of State recall the Chancellor of the Exchequer's remarks during the Budget debate that the whole or the greater part of the Government's financial programme for the year is based on the assumption that, by the autumn of this year, we shall be relieved from the whole of the foreign exchange costs of our troops in Germany. Can he confirm that that is the position?
§ Mr. HealeyI can tell the hon. Gentleman that I am so aware of the Chancellor's views on this matter that, in one day in Bonn, I arranged sales of £8 million worth of British equipment to the German Government under the existing off-set agreement.
§ Mr. BlakerSince it is now 18 months since the Government first proposed the 565 A.N.F., can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he discussed the matter with the German Government when he was over there and whether any progress was made?
§ Mr. HealeyI had discussions with Herr von Hassel about making arrangements by which the non-nuclear members of the alliance can be satisfied that the nuclear members use their weapons in accordance with the collective desires of the alliance in a crisis. That is the issue which is generally agreed by all Governments in the alliance to be by far the most urgent matter for decision and, incidentally, it is one which was totally ignored in the 13 years that the party opposite was in power.
§ Mr. DickensIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Warsaw Pact Defence Ministers at a recent meeting decided to reduce Soviet forces in Eastern Germany by five divisions? Is he further aware that that is just one more indication that the cold war forces in Europe are falling apart? Would he not make a contribution to that at least by making a total reduction in the B.A.O.R. in the immediate future?
§ Mr. HealeyI am not aware of the facts to which the hon. Gentleman refers. The Soviet Government, who control these divisions, have certainly not decided to withdraw five of them, as far as I am aware. Nothing would please this Government and other members of the alliance more than if it were possible for the two alliances to reach agreement on a progressive reduction in the level at which the balance of security is maintained on both sides of the Iron Curtain.
§ The following is the Communiqué:
§ Bonn, 6th June, 1966