§ 7. Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals have been made by Her Majesty's Government for the carrying out of the Resolution on the work of the United Nations Disarmament Commission adopted by the General Assembly on 7th December, 1953.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydHer Majesty's Government are well aware of the importance of following up the Assembly's Resolution. We hope that the Disarmament Commission may be in a position to start meeting again shortly. Developments in this field must, however, depend to some extent on what results from the procedural discussions at Berlin between Mr. Dulles and M. Molotov on President Eisenhower's proposals with regard to atomic energy.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerWould it not be possible for Her Majesty's Government to propose that the Commission should at last start on its work of drafting a treaty on the basis of the proposals which we put forward two years ago?
§ Mr. LloydI think that the most promising development in this field recently has been President Eisenhower's proposals. There are procedural discussions as to how that development can be handled. When that has been decided, I think we shall be in a position to see what useful work the Disarmament Commission can do.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIs it not a fact that President Eisenhower's proposals relate to pacific uses of atomic energy but that the Commission is designed to deal with weapons of every kind, including atomic weapons, conventional weapons and forces?
§ Mr. LloydI think it has been publicly stated that it is clear that the Soviet Union are inclined to group President Eisenhower's proposals with their own suggestions on atomic disarmament. That is why there is a link between those two matters. I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that the question of the Disarmament Commission proceeding with a draft treaty is one which is frequently before us, and for which there is a great deal to be said.