HC Deb 29 April 1954 vol 526 c1786
49 and 50. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) in view of the fact that Her Majesty's Government have invited the United States Government to send representatives to the bacteriological trials off the Bahamas, if he will extend similar invitations to the other countries who are signatories of the North Atlantic Treaty;

(2) if he will instruct our representative at the United Nations Organisation to invite the World Health Organisation to send official representatives to be present at the bacteriological trials in the waters off the Bahamas.

The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Anthony Nutting)

No, Sir.

Mr. Hughes

Can the hon. Gentleman explain why the United States is invited to send people to these trials but France and our other Allies are not? As they are purely defensive exercises, could not the hon. Gentleman agree that the World Health Organisation, which is interested in preventing the spread of disease, should be officially represented?

Mr. Nutting

No, Sir, for the simple reason that we have received no request from any other countries or organisations to be so represented.