§ Mr. Arnoldasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent visit to Washington of the Minister of State for Defence Procurement.
§ Mr. PattieDuring my discussions in the United States with Pentagon officials, members of Congress and344W American industrialists, I explained that the problems which were developing in defence equipment co-operation between the European members of NATO and the United States were not in the best interests of the Alliance. I drew attention to the protectionist measures being introduced by Congress which prevented European industry from competing on a fair basis for United States defence contracts and also to the fact that regulations intended to prevent the flow of military technology to the Eastern bloc were being applied to collaborative programmes between America and her allies.
I pointed out that this trend would discourage European countries from purchasing American equipment even when it offered the most cost-effective solution to their military requirement, and would lead to the exclusion of the United States from European collaborative equipment programmes.
My discussions were friendly and frank and I believe the Americans took serious note of my concerns and were led to reconsider where their best interests lay. Early solutions are in prospect for some of the individual problems, but the resolution of the majority will be a longer-term process. I am confident, however, that with further work these problems can be overcome and it is a sign of the underlying strength of the Alliance that any difficulties which do occur can be discussed in such a frank, open and constructive way.