§ 59. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Prime Minister to what extent in his conversations with President Eisenhower he discussed the question of pooling information and resources for civil defence.
§ The Prime MinisterCivil defence was not discussed. There is already a full and frank exchange of information on civil defence with the United States and other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries.
§ 60. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Prime Minister to what extent he discussed with President Eisenhower the increased danger to this country following the development of rocket warfare; and how far he discussed with President Eisenhower the desirability of removing United States bases from this country.
§ The Prime MinisterThe development of rocket weapons has not altered the situation in which the maintenance of peace and the protection of the free world continue to be dependent largely on the nuclear capacity of the United States and the threat of retaliation to deter a would-be aggressor. We are now contributing to collective defence not only by building up our own nuclear capacity, but also, like our other allies, by providing the United States with bases on our soil.
These bases are a vital and integral part of the defence, not only of this country but of the free world. The danger to the people of this country in the event of their removal at this time would be far greater than any increased danger that might result from the development of rocket weapons, to which the hon. Member has referred.
§ 61. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Prime Minister to what extent he discussed with President Eisenhower the pooling of information about the situation in the Middle East.
§ The Prime MinisterWe have a regular interchange of information with our American friends on the Middle East as on other questions. This continued during the visit which my right hon. and learned Friend and I recently paid to Washington, and is still going on.