N.A.T.O. FORCES (U.S. STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND)

HC Deb 31 January 1955 vol 536 cc63-4W

16. Mr. Beswick

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the statement issued after the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation meeting of December last, with regard to the responsibility for putting plans into action involving the use of atomic and thermonuclear weapons, covered the United States Strategic Air Command as well as other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces.

Mr. Nutting

My right hon. Friend explained the communiqué to which the hon. Member refers in his statement of 22nd December last. It was clear that the Military Committee's Report applied only to Forces under the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation command. The United States Strategic Air Command is not included among those Forces.

As the communiqué issued in January, 1952, made clear, that part of the U.S. Air Force which is based in the U.K. will only operate with the consent of Her Majesty's Government.