§ 2.49 p.m.
§ Lord Jenkins of PutneyMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the appreciation expressed by the Earl of Avon on 24th February (col. 963) of Lord Jenkins of Putney's point that many people "will much more warmly welcome the American contribution when it becomes a non-nuclear contribution" indicates that the Government now share this view and, if so, what actions they are proposing to give effect to it.
§ The Earl of AvonNo, my Lords. Acknowledgment of an opinion is not the same as agreement with it. The Government's position has not changed.
§ Lord Jenkins of PutneyMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that I am bitterly disappointed by his Answer, although not perhaps so surprised as disappointed? Is the noble Earl aware that in the meanwhile the American Government do not agree with the Prime Minister that she has a veto over the firing of American cruise missiles on British soil? Is he aware that Paul Warnke said that—
§ Lord Jenkins of Putney—and I quote:
The country that physically controls the weapon is going to make the decision"?And again I quote,No piece of paper is the equivalent of a twin key system"?Will not the Government look again at the situation, which now places the life and death of everyone in this country in the hands of a foreign power?
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, I thought that the noble Lord's original remark might lead me to the Gilbertian expression,
You're exceedingly polite and I think it only right to return the compliment".To be more specific, I must reiterate what my right honourable friend the Prime Minister is on record as saying, on 12th May 1983:The effect of the understandings and the arrangements for implementing them is that no nuclear weapon would be fired or launched from British Territory without the agreement of the British Prime Minister".—[Official Report, Commons, 12/5/83; col. 433.]
§ Lord Jenkins of PutneyMy Lords, is it not the case that if there is an agreement, both parties must agree on what the agreement is? If the Americans insist—as they do insist, continuously—that there is no veto, then, as Mr. Warnke has said, the situation is that the power which holds physical control will make the decision.
§ The Earl of AvonMy Lords, I have not had a large amount of dealings with the United States but I feel sure that if the President and our Prime Minister have come to this agreement, then that is good enough for us.