HC Deb 16 July 1956 vol 556 cc825-7
1. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the recent meetings of the United Nations Disarmament Commission.

The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Douglas Dodds-Parker)

The Commission has been meeting all last week. Since the events of which my right hon. and learned Friend gave an account on 9th July, more proposals have been tabled. There was a Soviet proposal on the renunciation of the use of nuclear weapons, and on 12th July there was another Soviet proposal, which will require careful study. There has also been a proposal by Yugoslavia suggesting a partial disarmament agreement.

In addition to these, there have been a number of amendments tabled to the draft resolution which stands in the names of Canada, France, the United States of America and the United Kingdom. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State moved an amendment in the names of these four countries and of Australia to the effect that arrangements for the limitation of nuclear test explosions should be added to the list of principles which the Powers concerned believe should be the basis of a disarmament agreement. This draft resolution has had very strong support.

We expect the Commission to meet again this week before deciding what instructions should be given to its Sub-Committee.

Mr. Henderson

Is it the policy of the Government to support the proposal of the Government of Yugoslavia to try to secure a partial agreement in the event of failure to secure a comprehensive agreement?

Mr. Dodds-Parker

We are, of course, prepared to consider this very seriously. It is being looked at at the moment, but I should not like to give a categoric reply to the right hon. and learned Gentleman now.

Mr. Beswick

The Joint Under-Secretary will remember that, when the Soviet Russians said they would agree to the Anglo-French proposals for the reduction of from 1 million to 1½ million men, we then took up the position that we should only reduce to the figure stated by the Americans. On 12th July, the Soviet Russians said that they would agree to the American proposals. Will the Joint Under-Secretary say what reason there is for not accepting that suggestion of 12th July?

Mr. Dodds-Parker

Because the essence of any disarmament agreement, as has so often been pointed out, is control; and a disarmament agreement without effective control would be unrealistic and meaningless.

4. Mr. Beswick

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will detail the international political problems on which Her Majesty's Government requires to reach a settlement before agreeing to a comprehensive disarmament convention.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

Her Majesty's Government do not require to reach a settlement of any international problem before agreeing to a comprehensive disarmament convention. Indeed, as my right hon. and learned Friend said in reply to the hon. Member on 15th February, we have always taken the view that if we can get agreement about disarmament that will of itself contribute to a lessening of tension. But we do not believe that a comprehensive disarmament agreement will ever be carried out unless its provisions take effect pari passu with settlement of outstanding political issues.

Mr. Beswick

If the Government do not want a political settlement before they agree to a disarmament plan, why did the Minister of State say in New York two weeks ago that the reason they could not accept the Russian proposals was that they had not agreed to the prior solution of certain political problems, and to which political problems was he referring?

Mr. Dodds-Parker

I cannot answer that question without notice, but I think that my right hon. Friend made the position quite clear on 25th April when he said, in answer to the hon. Gentleman: It is not true to say that we cannot make a start with disarmament before the settlement of outstanding international political issues, but we do not believe that we could carry through a comprehensive disarmament programme, including drastic reductions in forces and armaments, until political problems have been settled."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th April, 1956; Vol. 551. c. 1767.]

Mr. Robens

Will the hon. Gentleman answer the question, arising from the many statements that his right hon. Friend has made, as to which political questions he desires to see settled before he can move towards some solution?

Mr. Dodds-Parker

I have answered that, as the right hon. Gentleman will see if he will read my reply and those of my right hon. Friend.

7. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will instruct the British representative on the United Nations Disarmament Commission to propose the cessation of hydrogen bomb stock-piling pending the outcome of the negotiations for a comprehensive disarmament agreement.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

No, Sir.

Mr. Henderson

Would not the Minister agree with the statement made by the Minister of State last week that the number of hydrogen bombs is such that we have reached the point of infinite devastation, and, if that be so, is it not desirable to cease these stock piles as soon as possible?

Mr. Dodds-Parker

The right hon. and learned Member, who knows a great deal about this subject, will realise that such a system as he proposes would be unenforceable without a system of control within a general agreement.