HL Deb 01 July 1964 vol 259 cc587-8

3.2 p.m.

LORD KENNET

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they endorse the following statement which has been made by the special adviser to the United States Secretary of State on the Multilateral Force: All allied naval experts who have examined the problem have concluded that, with skilful training and good motivation, efficient and happy ships can be jointly manned by crews made up of men from allied navies", and, if so, whether they will now make available to the House the studies mentioned.]

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government certainly believe that a mixed-manned force of surface ships could be made to work. But the real question under consideration is not whether it is feasible but whether it is necessary and, if it is necessary, what form it should take. I cannot make available any official studies of aspects of the Multilateral Force. As the noble Lord knows, the American proposal is under consideration by the Working Group in Paris. Their deliberations are confidential.

LORD KENNET

My Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his full and courteous reply, Is the Working Group in Paris still confined to the practical question of mixed-manning or is it now expanding its attentions to the question of control—who will actually have the power to fire these weapons? If not, would Her Majesty's Government consider proposing that this question should now be examined?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I think that all aspects of this force are under study in Paris, and British proposals are being presented to the Working Group there to-day.

LORD CONESFORD

My Lords, what on earth is "good motivation"?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I am not quite certain, but I assume it is an American phrase to describe the sort of motivation which usually inspires me.

LORD OGMORE

My Lords, may I ask the noble Earl, arising out of his original Answer, whether it is not the fact that this force may have important political and diplomatic purposes as well as military ones?

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I think that my right honourable friend the Prime Minister has made this clear on a number of occasions in another place.