§ 50. Mr. K. Robinsonasked the Prime Minister if, in view of the improved prospects for nuclear and general disarmament, he will halt production of the British hydrogen bomb at least for a limited period, as a positive contribution towards securing international agreement in this field.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. The prospects for nuclear and general disarmament have improved because the Western Powers have persisted in building up their strength. There is no reason to think that a reversal of this policy would now be either timely or effective.
§ Mr. RobinsonDoes the right hon. Gentleman not appreciate that a gesture such as this would be widely regarded, not as a sign of weakness, but as a sign of strength and of confidence in the future? What is the good of our trying to prove to the world that we can manufacture these hideous weapons when the whole world knows perfectly well already that we can if we wish to?
§ The Prime MinisterWe are not the only people manufacturing these hideous weapons, and I should have thought that the future of this problem was one which might be well discussed, in whatever form 201 thought appropriate, at the Geneva meeting. I do not myself believe that in advance of negotiations of this kind we improve our position by gestures of that kind.