§ 2.50 p.m.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will confirm that the NATO contingency plan agreed in 1971, for a naval task force to operate South of the Tropic of Cancer if need be, has now been confirmed by the Defence Planning Council; whether this will involve any Treaty amendment; and whether the Government have expressed their willingness in principle to contribute to such a task force.
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, no such contingency plan was agreed in 1971. However, in 1972 the Defence Planning Committee of NATO gave authority for SACLANT to study the problem of protecting shipping outside the NATO area. SACLANT has not 900 yet presented its final plan to NATO. Any question of national approval or treaty amendment is therefore premature.
Lord CHELWOODMy Lords, will the noble Lord the Minister say when the plan will be presented? Will he further say whether in principle the NATO Council of Ministers now regards the threat to, or interference with, the freedom of the seas outside the formal NATO Treaty area as something that could and would be countered?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, with regard to the second part of the question, the fact that SACLANT was instructed to study the problem means that the problem is one concerning the Defence Planning Committee of NATO When SACLANT will actually present its final plan is not yet clear.
§ Lord SHINWELLMy Lords, if my noble friend Lord Winterbottom declares that a treaty of amendment may be regarded at the moment as premature, would he say the same thing about the need for a task force below the Tropic of Cancer? Is not the Government somewhat too complacent about the international situation?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, the NATO Defence Planning Committee is obviously aware of the threat, and therefore instructed SACLANT to study the problem. My noble friend Lord Shinwell I am certain will remember that the North Atlantic Treaty does not define areas of operations. In Articles 5 and 6 the Treaty specifies areas within which an armed attack on any member State will be regarded as an attack on all members. But this particular Article does not prohibit contingency planning. For that reason, SACLANT has been instructed to study the problem.
§ Lord SHINWELLMy Lords, would my noble friend not agree that the time has arrived for a review of the whole defence situation?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, that is a very wide question. I am certain we shall have an opportunity to debate it in the near future.
Lord CHELWOODMy Lords, does the noble Lord recollect that in January of last year the Secretary of State for 901 Defence said that he was worried about the growth of Soviet naval activity in the Indian Ocean and round the Cape? If there was cause for worry some 14 months ago, is there not more cause for worry now? May I seek an assurance from the noble Lord that, when a decision is made about the matter, a statement will be made to Parliament, rather than leaving noble Lords to rely on leaks in the newspapers from usually reliable sources?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Chelwood, is a valid one. I shall draw it to the attention of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State.
§ Lord BROCKWAYMy Lords, does my noble friend the Minister not agree that it would be better if we sought the neutralisation of the Indian Ocean, as demanded by all the adjoining nations in Asia and Africa, rather than proceeding with these policies?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, that is another question.
§ Lord STRATHCONA and MOUNT ROYALMy Lords, can the noble Lord tell us what forces this country might have available to contribute to such a task force, outside the forces already committed to NATO?
§ Lord WINTERBOTTOMMy Lords, that is a hypothetical question. We have not reached that point yet.