§ 13. Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement about the work of the Disarmament Commission of the United Nations the mandate of which was continued by the General Assembly at its recent meeting.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydThe Disarmament Commission has not met since its first report was considered by the General Assembly in April. I expect it to reconvene next month.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIs not the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that, on 11th May, he said that we were ready to go ahead and summon the Disarmament Commission to negotiate on this important subject, and, since it appears that the Russians are ready to do the same, is it not regrettable that Her Majesty's Government have taken no steps to convoke the Disarmament Commission during all these months?
§ Mr. LloydI think the House will agree that it is necessary to wait until we are certain that the surrounding circumstances are favourable. I believe that, on balance, we were wise to wait. We hope that the Commission will meet next month.