HOME’S FIRST MAJOR SPEECH AS PREMIER

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30287, 13 November 1963, Page 17

HOME’S FIRST MAJOR SPEECH AS PREMIER

Nuclear Force Defended As Basis Of Peace (N .ZP. A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, November 12. Britain must retain control over her own nuclear arms until international disarmament could be achieved, the Prime Minister (Sir Alec Douglas-Home) said last night. Sir Alec Douglas-Home was making his first major speech as Prime Minister on the eve of the new session of Parliament.

He strongly defended Britain’s possession of a nuclear force in a speech at the Lord Mayor of London’s banquet. He said Britain would not get to the peace table by grace and favour but "as a right, because we are a nuclear power.” Sir Alec Douglas-Home said he believed the truth about nuclear war was as clear to the Soviet Prime Minister 'Mr Khrushchev) as it was to the West. His open renunciation of war as an instrument of policy almost amounts to a total rethinking of Soviet plans for the future of communism. 'lt will not be easy for the Communists to drop force from their programme, but it must be done,” he said. "I believe we may be over the watershed of danger with the Soviet Union.” he said.

"But, if so, it is because the deterrent has deterred and. above all. because the Polaris submarine—as a secondstrike weapon—has convinced the Soviet Union that war is too dangerous.” He urged world statesmen to stop using words like "over our dead bodies” because that meant war. Britain's Influence Sir Alec Douglas-Home said the nations of the world longed for Britain to exercise her full influence and authority on the world stage. He emphasised the importance of a strong British economy. Britain's aim was a steady expansion of the national wealth—but without inflation, he said. To expand the wealth of Britain was the only sure guarantee her voice would carry authority in world affairs. “There is the most direct relationship between wealth and power and influence.” he said.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home said he thought the British people

had always recognised the need to share their wealth with others. But before wealth was shared it must be earned. “Our aim therefore must be a steady expansion of the national wealth,’’ he said. He said the difference between a 3 per cent and a 4 per cent annual rate of growth was the difference between mediocrity and prosperity. The Prime Minister repeated his pledge to tell the people in the simplest language the things the Government planned. He urged management to tell the workers what industry was doing and why. Dinger of Rising Prices Britain could modernise and improve her services to her people but only if people understood that rising prices were Britain’s deadliest enemy. The Prime Minister asked, “why do we need wealth?” and then answered: “Security and peace. War impoverishes us as a nation and exhausts our people.” Sir Alec Douglas-Home said some people maintained that nuclear weapons were wicked. “If the nuclear deterrent has stopped war, then the nuclear weapon is none of these things,” he said.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home said it might be that, if Britain achieved international disarmament, balanced disarmament of both nuclear and conventional arms, she could change her position. “But, until I can see the pattern much more clearly than I can today—and noone can see it more clearly than one who has been Foreign Secretary—l must advise our people to retain the ultimate control over our own nuclear arms,” he said. Butler’s Task The Foreign Secretary (Mr Butler’ would have to conduct "the biggest diplomatic operation perhaps there has been of all time.” he said. His aim was nothing less than to reverse the thinking and actions of men throughout the ages. The Prime Minister said all the difficulties, including Berlin, must be settled by negotiation, no matter how long this might last. “There is no other choice before men,” he said.

The Prime Minister said: “I join with Mr Butler in giving you this pledge: we will work as a Government to modernise Britain and make this a happy nation. “The Foreign Secretary and I will pledge ourselves to work untiringly for security and peace so that . . . men and women everywhere may go about their lawful occasions without fear.” Parliament to Reopen Sir Alec Douglas-Home faces a big test today when he re-enters the House of Commons at the start of the vital final session of Parliament before the next General Election.

He told his supporters yesterday he was “almost spoiling for the fight” with the Opposition. He will today make his first major speech in the Lower House when he outlines legislation the Government plans to introduce this session.

The leader of the Opposition (Mr Wilson) is expected to concentrate on a forceful attack on Government spending, probably accusing the Government of making ‘‘election promises.” Major debates are expected during the session on such issues as the controversial TSR2 nuclear bomber and the Government’s plans for education and housing.