§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their policy towards the proposal that a European officer should, without any change in the US command of the US Sixth Fleet or of that US commander's Middle Eastern duties, eventually occupy the NATO command post for southern Europe.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe)We will judge all proposals for the future NATO command structure in the light of basic aims that it should be militarily and cost effective, reinforce the transatlantic partnership between European and North American member states, and incorporate arrangements for a European security and defence identity within NATO.