NUCLEAR WEAPON TESTS

HC Deb 11 February 1957 vol 564 cc909-15

18. Mr. Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the nature of the warning given to Japan about the nuclear tests due to take place around Christmas Island later this year; and what official Japanese reply has been made.

19. Mr. S. O. Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what protests he has received from the fishing industry, trade unions, and peace organisations in Japan against the proposed British testing of nuclear weapons in the vicinity of Christmas Island in the South Pacific; and what reply he has given to such protests.

27. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will inform the Japanese Government what area in the Pacific it is proposed to declare dangerous for fishing in future United Kingdom nuclear weapon tests; and whether he will inform the Japanese Government that Japanese fishermen will be compensated for any loss they may sustain within that area.

30. Mr. Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply has been given to the representations from the Government of Japan for the suspension of nuclear bomb tests scheduled for Christmas Island between March and August this year.

50 and 51. Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) to what extent the proposed nuclear bomb tests around Christmas Island will interfere with freedom of navigation; and for how long;

(2) what representations he has received from foreign governments and organisations about the proposed nuclear bomb tests in the area of Christmas Island; and if he will give an assurance that no tests will be carried out under conditions which might endanger the health, welfare, and safety of the world's citizens.

65. Mr. Mason

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent he has given consideration to the protests made to Her Majesty's Government by the Japanese people against the series of thermo-nuclear tests planned to take place on Christmas Island this spring; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

The Japanese Government have been informed that an area in the Pacific Ocean will be declared dangerous to shipping and aircraft from 1st March to 1st August because of our nuclear tests. All foreign diplomatic missions in London have been given this information in identical Notes dated 7th January. As the Note is rather detailed, I will, with permission, circulate a copy in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

On 30th January, the Japanese Ambassador delivered at the Foreign Office a Note requesting Her Majesty's Government to suspend these tests. A reply will be sent shortly. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has received protests about the proposed nuclear tests from the Japanese Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, the Federation of Japan Tuna Fishermen's Co-operative Association, the All Japan Federation of Students Self-governing Associations and the All Japan Seamen's Union. These will require study before replies can be sent.

I would remind the House that the explosions will take place far from any inhabited islands and that the tests will be so arranged as to avoid danger to persons or property. The tests will be high air bursts which will not involve heavy fall out. Safety precautions will be taken in the light of the Government's knowledge and of experience gained from the tests of other countries. Detailed plans for the operation have been made on this basis. Firing will not take place under any conditions in which inhabited islands might be affected by radioactive material.

With regard to claims, if any claims are received for compensation for damage or loss said to have arisen from these tests, they will be examined and Her Majesty's Government's attitude will depend on the facts of each particular case.

Mr. Hamilton

While protests may have come mainly from Japan, does the Secretary of State realise that there is world-wide anxiety on this matter, and would he undertake to give the House and the country periodical up-to-date information about radioactivity in the atmosphere generally? Further, what right have we got to declare an area in the Pacific dangerous to shipping and to prevent shipping from going into it? Would the Government object if Japan declared part of the Atlantic dangerous because Japan was going to explode her hydrogen bomb there?

Mr. Lloyd

So far as the first part of the supplementary question is concerned, I certainly will consider if that can be done. As to the second part, certainly so far as the law of the freedom of the seas is concerned I think there is nothing unlawful in the action we are taking, or in the action which the hon. Member suggests some other Government might take; but, of course, any Government undertaking such activity has got to take every possible precaution to see that there is no damage to life or property, and that is what we are doing.

Mr. Davies

Has the right hon. and learned Gentleman forgotten that comparable assurances were given before about the atom bomb exploded in the Pacific? Has he forgotten what the consequences of that explosion were? Is he conscious that the whole of Japan and many people in other parts of the world condemn without any qualification at all this wasteful, stupid and dangerous handling of powers which the right hon, and learned Gentleman and the Government know next to nothing about?

Mr. Lloyd

I am not aware that precisely the same precautions were taken before. I am aware that a number of people object to this kind of test, but I believe that the possession of this weapon is one of the important deterrents to world war and that the horrors of world war are such that this country cannot deprive itself of a weapon calculated to deter such a war.

Mr. Hughes

Is the Secretary of State aware that he has not dealt with the question of how this affects the Japanese fishermen and whether it is likely to result in radioactive fish? Is his policy to make himself as popular in the Far East as he is in the Middle East?

Mr. Lloyd

I am told that there is no likelihood of radioactive fish resulting from these tests.

Mr. Bevan

As it has been observed on more than one occasion, particularly by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Woodford (Sir W. Churchill), that this weapon is a mutual deterrent, should not information be generally distributed, because if everybody knew about it we should all be safer? Has the right hon. and learned Gentleman asked the United States to give all their information about this weapon in order that we may all make it as quickly as possible so that we may all be so much safer if we have all got it?

Mr. Lloyd

Of course, the right hon. Gentleman knows quite well that there is legislation in the United States which prevents the United States Government from giving that information. So far as the question of tests is concerned, we have indicated that we are worried about the growth of the number of tests and there has to be some agreed system of their limitation. Towards that end, I very much hope that will be one of the matters upon which the Disarmament Sub-Committee will reach some decision soon.

Mr. Bevan

Is it not really insanity that we should now be having a series of tests in the Pacific and closing a whole area quite unlawfully for five months without any real idea of the consequences of our behaviour and adding to the range of radioactivity, when it is now common knowledge and common understanding that the universal possession of this knowledge is the only condition for universal safety? Is it not therefore the responsibility of the United States that these tests go on because we have not the knowledge, and our responsibility that this test is being made, because we ourselves want to engage in this kind of uncivilised competition?

Mr. Lloyd

I have never heard of any great willingness on the part of the Soviet Union to share its knowledge of weapons, and I am not personally prepared to accept a situation in which only the United States and the Soviet Union have knowledge of this weapon.

Mr. Mason

If the right hon. and learned Gentleman is seriously desirous of limitation, which is and must be the first step, will he consider consulting the Prime Minister so that instead of going on with the planned series of hydrogen bomb tests we can get sufficient information from one test and therefore can take the lead and wrest the initiative from those who are talking about limitation but are not prepared to act?

Mr. Lloyd

I promise that that is certainly a fact which will be taken into account.

Mr. Brockway

In view of the scientific uncertainties about this, are we not behaving rather like children with forces that we do not understand, or like immature gods gambling with the fate of man? Is it really worth while raising this resentment and animosity in Japan for the sake of this destructive adventure?

Mr. Lloyd

This particular experiment is a very small one. Every possible precaution will be taken. I do not believe that the risks of any danger to anyone are more than infinitesimal. We will not hold tests except in circumstances in which we have reasonable guarantees. The bursts are to be air bursts and, in those circumstances, the amount of radioactivity created is only comparatively small.

Mr. Swingler

Has not the Prime Minister expressed himself as worried about the accumulation of these tests and the dangers involved? In those circumstances, why are the Government now taking action which may add to those dangers; because we do not know what other tests will be carried out by other Powers, including the Soviet Union? How can the Foreign Secretary give any assurance that there is no danger involved? Has he, for example, examined evidence in Japan about the after-effects of tests? Is it not a fact that we do not know what dangers are involved?

Mr. Lloyd

Hon. and right hon. Members on both sides of the House are anxious about the unlimited extension of nuclear tests. Her Majesty's Government certainly are, but this particular test by the British Government will be only a very small addition to the amount of radioactivity in the world, and other countries—the United States and the Soviet Union—have had their tests and we intend to have ours. Hon. and right hon. Members do no good by pretending that what we are going to do is any substantial addition to danger. It is not. It is a very small matter; but I agree that we have to see whether we cannot get some collective arrangement about any future tests.

Mr. Hughes

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the answer, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.

Following is a copy of the Note:

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.

January 7, 1957.

I have the honour to refer to the announcement by the Prime Minister on the 7th of June, 1956, that Her Majesty's Government intend to carry out a series of nuclear tests in the megaton range during the first half of 1957.

Her Majesty's Government hereby give public warning that the following defined area should be considered dangerous to shipping and aircraft from the 1st of March to the 1st of August, 1957. The boundaries of this dangerous area are as follows:—

1. (a) 08° 30' South, 161° 30' West.
2. (b) 08° 30' South, 148° 30' West.
3. (c) 00° 00' Equator, 148° 30' West.
4. (d) 00° 00' Equator, 150° 30' West.
5. (e) 07° 00' North, 150° 30' West.
6. (f) 07° 00' North, 158° 00' West.
7. (g) 03° 30' North, 158° 00' West.
8. (h) 03° 30' North, 164° 00' West.
9. (f) 00° 00' Equator, 164° 00' West.
10. (k) 00° 00' Equator, 159° 00' West.
11. (l) 02° 30' South, 159° 00' West.
12. (m) 02° 30' South, 161° 30' West.

Should it be necessary to extend the limits of this area or the period during which it is dangerous, early warning will he given. Her Majesty's Government will take full precautions to ensure against the incidence of injury to human life or to property within the danger area. It is not anticipated that there will be any such hazards outside the danger area.

Information regarding the establishment of the foregoing danger area will be disseminated through notices to mariners and to airmen and other public announcements.

Enclosed is a copy of a chart on which is outlined the danger area.