18. Mr. Dixonasked the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he expects to have with the American Secretary of Defence.
§ Mr. MasonAs I announced in last week's defence debate, I am looking forward to visiting Washington for my first meeting with Mr. Schlesinger on 29th May. There will be many matters of mutual concern for us to discuss, particularly of course in the context of the North Atlantic Alliance. The meeting will also give me an opportunity to reaffirm the importance attached by the Government to our links with the Americans.
Mr. DixonWhen the right hon. Gentleman reflects that the armed forces of America are larger than those of the whole of the European members of NATO and that withdrawal of those forces would leave the whole of Western Europe to be overrun by our enemies, the Russians, may I ask whether, in his discussions with his American colleagues, he will talk more about the relationship of our gross national product compared with that of the United States and not those of European members of NATO?
§ Mr. MasonI know the hon. Gentleman's views, with some of which I agree. However, he will have noticed recently that President Nixon stated that as long as the NATO nations maintained their efforts there would be no question of American withdrawal. It will be our duty to maintain our effort and help to keep the Americans within the NATO Alliance.