HC Deb 17 February 1954 vol 523 c203W
Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the right of an all-German Government, before and after the conclusion of a peace treaty enabling them to defend themselves, to form and maintain national armed forces without limit as to size, type or armament, and the right to import or to manufacture any type of military weapon.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

Neither the Soviet Government nor the three Western Governments have proposed that a united Germany should have unlimited armed forces. The view of Her Majesty's Government is that the best way to control German rearmament lies in Germany's membership of the European Defence Community. Under the E.D.C. Treaty Germany would have no independent armed forces, no independent general staff, and would be able to manufacture, import and use war materials only with the agreement of the other member countries.