Transatlantic Row Over Polaris Base

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29353, 4 November 1960, Page 16

Transatlantic Row Over Polaris Base

t'ress Association—Copyright) LONDON, November 3. A transatlantic row flared up yesterday over the decision to establish an American base in Scotland for Polaris missile submarines. In Parliament, 32 Labour members have signed a motion opposing the granting of the base.

A statement by the British Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) that Britain would receive the fullest possible consultation before the missiles were used has been contradicted in Washington. The Foreign Secretary (Lord Home) said it appeared from newspaper reports he had seen that Mr Macmillan had been misinterpreted as implying that the United States were formally committed to previous consultation with Britain before using the Polaris missile anywhere in the world.

Lord Home had been questioned in the House of Lords about the Prime Minister’s statement. that Britain had agreed to give. facilities for the Polaris missile-firing submarine. Lord Alexander of Hillsbor-

ough, leader of the Labour peers, had referred to reports that the United States authorities said they were surprised by Mr Macmillan’s statement that Polaris missiles would be fired only after the fullest possible previous consultation. Lord Home said: “It is quite clear from the Prime Minister’s statement that although he is sure there would be consultation wherever possible, it could not necessarily be guaranteed in the case of an emergency.” Lord Home, who was speaking

in a foreign policy debate, added: “For this reason the Prime Minister pointed out that it was not possible to make an agreement that was exactly on all fours with the bomber bases agreement. “I would only add that, of course, all these are matters of continuous consultation in this field of defence.” Lord Home said if there had been any misunderstanding he was sure the Prime Minister’s statement, read in its full context, would clear it up.