§ The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Denis Healey)I wish to make a personal statement regarding a speech which I made on Saturday outside the House, which has been reported widely in the Press. In that speech I was speaking of the need to be loyal to our 1238 alliances as a condition for being able to speak with authority on their behalf to others.
I had occasion to illustrate my remarks by a reference to the French policy in N.A.T.O. and the E.E.C. I much regret that, in doing so, I used words which, on reflection, I think I should not have used. I trust that the House will accept that I did not intend any personal discourtesy.