§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Defence what treaty will govern the circumstances in which United Kingdom forces might be used outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation areas.
§ Mr. SpeedThe North Atlantic Treaty does not prevent the use of national forces outside the area defined by the Treaty, and United Kingdom forces have often deployed outside this area in the past. In particular, we are prepared, if so invited by friendly local States in an emergency, and probably in concert with one or more of our allies, to consider providing limited military assistance in our strategic regions outside the NATO area. If, depending on the contingency, units normally earmarked for NATO were involved, we would of course put our intentions to the Alliance.