HC Deb 08 December 1954 vol 535 c937
10. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the precautionary measures taken to protect inhabitants of the Marshall Islands against the effect of nuclear weapon experiments were not in accordance with the recommendation of the United Nations Trusteeship Council; and whether he will instruct our representative at the United Nations to propose that it should call for a report on the measures which were taken.

Mr. Turton

The last nuclear weapon experiments in the Marshall Islands took place in March, 1954. The recomendations of the Trusteeship Council to which the hon. Member refers were made in the following June. The United States Government have accepted these recommendations. No further action is necessary.

Mr. Sorensen

Would the hon. Gentleman not agree that quite obviously sufficient precautions were not taken, in view of the fact that many Marshall Islanders suffered from this explosion and that others much further away also suffered? Can we be assured that sufficient precautions will be taken in future to see that no one suffers in the way that these people have been suffering recently?

Mr. Turton

I have explained that this Resolution was passed after the explosion because of the unfortunate incidents which happened in that explosion. The United States Government have accepted the Resolution.