General Charles Dalton

Oral Answers to Questions — Defence – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 2 July 1985.

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Photo of Ann Clwyd Ann Clwyd , Cynon Valley 12:00, 2 July 1985

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings he has had with General Charles Dalton, United States Chief of Staff, at SHAPE in the last 12 months.

Photo of Ann Clwyd Ann Clwyd , Cynon Valley

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the threat made by General Dalton during a visit on 3 June to SHAPE headquarters by eight Members of Parliament, when he said that a future British Government would not be able to determine their own defence priorities without the threat of economic sanctions being imposed by a United States Government? How seriously does the right hon. Gentleman take this threat against our national sovereignty?

Photo of Mr Michael Heseltine Mr Michael Heseltine The Secretary of State for Defence

These remarks are purported to have been made during a visit by the parliamentary Labour party defence committee. Confronted with that galére, any American general could be forgiven for almost any observation.