§ Q2. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Prime Minister what recent proposals have been put to other members of the Commonwealth concerned as to the United Kingdom's intentions on the continuation of military commitments in an east of Suez rôle; and whether he will give an assurance that in the interests of national solvency such commitments will be quickly and substantially reduced.
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to Answers given to similar Questions on 22nd June by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and by myself on 23rd June.
§ Mr. HamiltonDoes my right hon. Friend recollect that last Thursday he talked about a substantial reduction of forces east of Suez following the elimination of the confrontation with Indonesia? Will he give an assurance that, despite the assertion of the Secretary of State for Defence that these troops would be redeployed in other areas, this will still mean a substantial financial reduction in our defence commitment?
§ The Prime MinisterI recall clearly what I said. I meant it then and that is the position of the Government. We intend to have a massive reduction in those troops who necessarily had to do a job in resisting confrontation.
§ Sir R. CaryIn view of two speeches made the other day by Sir Robert Menzies and the Prime Minister of New Zealand about the vital importance to world peace of Britain keeping her rôle east of Suez and in the Far East, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman to confirm that that is the Government's policy?
§ The Prime MinisterWhile not being responsible for speeches made either by a distinguished ex-Prime Minister like Sir Robert Menzies or the Prime Minister of New Zealand, I have said clearly that we intend to stand by our commitments as set out in the Defence White Paper?
§ Mr. BarnettWill my right hon. Friend give an assurance that troops leaving Malaysia will not be sent to Thailand?
§ The Prime MinisterI have no doubt that many of these questions are being discussed in Canberra at the present time, but our intention is that as troops were sent from this country from the Strategic Reserve and from elsewhere to deal with a very special commitment in Malaysia there need be no question of their being redeployed in that area although, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has said, our first priority must be to reduce the overstretch on the Forces. This is the first priority before any other questions of deployment are considered.
§ Mr. Evelyn KingHas the Prime Minister any proposal—as the Minister of Defence seemed to indicate in a slightly ambiguous statement the other day—to refuse to supply arms to Australia if they are to be used in Vietnam?
§ The Prime MinisterI was asked that Question last week. I gave an answer to it then, and I shall be glad to give a copy of it to the hon. Member.