HC Deb 15 February 1956 vol 548 cc2341-3
18. Mr. Beswick

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at what point, and in what way, Her Majesty's Government's representatives made it clear that the Anglo-French disarmament proposals were put forward on the condition that world political tension was relaxed by the settlement of outstanding differences.

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Selwyn Lloyd)

As United Kingdom representative on the United Nations Disarmament Sub-Committee, I pointed out at the start of its meetings on 13th May, 1954 that substantial disarmament cannot come about unless there is a real relaxation of world tension, including a settlement of the major international differences dividing the world today. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State made the same point on 1st March, 1955, at the start of the second series of the meetings of the Sub-Committee. I would also refer the hon. Gentleman to my statements in the House of Commons on this matter on 30th July and 6th December, 1954.

Mr. Beswick

Would not the Foreign Secretary accept that one of the greatest outstanding differences has been this question of disarmament, and as the Soviet representative accepted the Anglo-French proposals, does the right hon. and learned Gentleman mean to say that we do not agree with the Soviet proposal that the Anglo-French proposals should be accepted unless there is a prior settlement of all the outstanding world problems?

Mr. Lloyd

I do not think the hon. Gentleman is correct in saying that the Anglo-French proposals were accepted by the Soviet Union, because there was no agreement upon control, and that is the essence of any disarmament agreement.

As for the other point, I have always taken the view that if we can get agreement about disarmament, that will of itself contribute to a lessening of tension, but there will not be substantial disarmament unless we also remove the causes of tension.

26. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government that an early disarmament agreement should include an immediate acceptance by all signatory States of a prohibition of the use of all nuclear weapons except in defence against aggression, pending the total prohibition and elimination of all nuclear weapons.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

Her Majesty's Government stand by what was said in the Anglo-French memorandum of 11th June, 1954, that the States Members of the Disarmament Sub-Committee—Canada, France, United Kingdom, United States, and the Soviet Union—should regard themselves as prohibited in accordance with the terms of the United Nations Charter from the use of nuclear weapons except in defence against aggression. Her Majesty's Government consider that any disarmament treaty should include an immediate acceptance of this prohibition by all signatory States.

Mr. Henderson

Was not the proposal accepted in principle by the Soviet Government? Does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman therefore consider that there is a reasonable chance of such a proposal being embodied in a partial disarmament agreement?

Mr. Lloyd

I am not at all certain that the right hon. and learned Gentleman is correct in saying that that was accepted by the representative of the Soviet Union, but I see no reason why the proposal should not be included in any partial disarmament agreement.

27. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the policy of Her Majesty's Government as part of an early disarmament agreement in regard to securing reductions in the level of armed forces and conventional armaments, subject to the establishment of an effective control organ.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

As indicated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State on 30th January, Her Majesty's Government intend to follow up the General Assembly Resolution of 16th December which instructed the United Nations Disarmament Sub-Committee to give priority to early agreement on and implementation of all such measures of adequately safeguarded disarmament as are now feasible. We shall put forward our views in the Disarmament Sub-Committee, which is to meet next month.

Mr. Henderson

Is there any reason why the right hon. and learned Gentleman should not frankly state that Her Majesty's Government intend to propose some reductions in the levels of manpower and conventional armaments, even though they may not be able to make proposals to the same effect as they did in the Anglo-French plan?

Mr. Lloyd

I would ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman to consider this point. I think it is very important that the meetings of the Sub-Committee should be regarded, initially at all events, as private. It would be better that there should not be prior publication of what we are going to say there.

Mr. Henderson

Mr. Khruschev has, at any rate, been able to make some statement in public about three or four points which would receive the support of the Soviet Government. Is there any reason why we should draw a veil of secrecy over what the British Government are proposing?

Mr. Lloyd

We do not wish to use discussions of this sort for propaganda purposes. I think it better that we should treat the meetings as private.