§ 6. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Government is prepared to give a lead to the Disarmament Conference by stating precisely and publicly the figures it would be prepared to accept both in tonnage and number for a limitation of the various types of military, naval and air weapons?
§ Sir J. SIMONHis Majesty's Government consider that they have already given a lead to the Disarmament Conference by the proposals which they submitted on the 17th November last (Cmd. 4189), and by the programme of work put forward on behalf of His Majesty's Government by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at Geneva recently.
§ Mr. MANDERIn view of the fact that in that programme there are no definite figures as to numbers or sizes, will my right hon. Friend consider making proposals on that head and not leave the initiative to others?
§ Sir J. SIMONI think it will be quite clear that, if the question of figures and sizes arises, that must be a matter for negotiation, and I am not sure that negotiations are always best begun by making a public statement by one party in the House of Commons.
§ Mr. MANDERThen do I understand that at the right time, and possibly in private, proposals will be made on these points by the British Government?
§ Sir J. SIMONMy hon. Friend may really rest assured that at the right time anything proper will be proposed.