HC Deb 16 July 1956 vol 556 cc828-9
5. Mr. Beswick

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will instruct the British representative at the United Nations Disarmament Conference to appeal for agreement for the cessation of hydrogen bomb tests, separate from any proposals for agreement on the prohibition of use of present stock-piles of atomic weapons.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained the position of Her Majesty's Government fully on 12th July. I have nothing to add to his statement.

Mr. Beswick

The right hon. Gentleman may have explained it fully, but he did not do so clearly. Is it the position of Her Majesty's Government that, whilst Soviet Russia is prepared to stop hydrogen bomb tests now, we are not?

Mr. Dodds-Parker

No, Sir. If the hon. Member will look at what my right hon. Friend said, he will find that the Prime Minister said: It would no doubt he preferable that this matter"— that is, the regulating and limiting of test explosions— should be pursued within the context of a comprehensive agreement on disarmament. For our part, however, we should not exclude other methods of discussion acceptable to those concerned"—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 12th July, 1956; Vol. 556, c. 588.]

11. Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made in the United Nations Disarmament Commission on the Anglo-French proposals for the limitation and eventual abolition of hydrogen bomb tests.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

The Anglo-French proposals have been expounded by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State in the Disarmament Commission and have received some commendation there. They were not, however, welcomed by the Soviet Representative. Nevertheless, Her Majesty's Government stand by these proposals and hope that the Soviet Government will come to recognise their merits. Discussions are still proceeding.

Mr. Swingler

As the Prime Minister has now stated that Her Majesty's Government are prepared to deal with this question separately in an attempt to reach some swift agreement on it, will the Minister of State, in the discussions, now make an offer to the other Powers to divorce this question from the other complex problems which have to be solved, in an attempt to reach at the highest level an immediate agreement upon it?

Mr. Dodds-Parker

We are looking at this point at the moment. My right hon. Friend has mentioned this already.