§ 45. Mr. Owenasked the Prime Minister if he is aware of the recent statement by the President of the United States concerning hydrogen bomb tests; and whether he will make a statement on Government policy in this regard.
§ 47. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Prime Minister what recent consultations he has had with President Eisenhower concerning hydrogen bomb tests; and whether he will make a statement.
§ 51. Mr. Fenner Brockwayasked the Prime Minister what representations Her Majesty's Government has made to the Governments of the United States of America and of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics regarding their recent disarmament proposals; and particularly regarding the proposals made by the President of the United States of America concerning hydrogen bomb tests.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)As my predecessor explained on 20th December, Her Majesty's Government are not aware of any new statement or proposals by President Eisenhower personally about nuclear tests. On 14th January the United States Representative at the General Assembly outlined new disarmament proposals for both nuclear and conventional disarmament. These proposals cover both limitation and eventual prohibition of nuclear tests. Her Majesty's Government hope that the Disarmament Sub-Committee will study the new United States proposals most carefully at its next meeting. We 31 are in close touch with the United States Government on these matters.
As regards the Soviet proposals of 17th November, we have informed the Soviet Government that we consider they could most appropriately be studied in the Disarmament Sub-Committee.
Her Majesty's Government are following the present debate in the United Nations General Assembly with the closest attention and look forward to taking an active part in the Disarmament Sub-Committee when it meets. Meanwhile, Her Majesty's Government still consider that the Anglo-French comprehensive plan offers a satisfactory way of dealing with the problem of nuclear disarmament, and as the House is aware, we are also ready to consider separately The possibility of limiting nuclear test explosions.
§ Mr. OwenIs the Prime Minister aware that the voices of Norway and of Western Germany have recently been added to the universal plea for a cessation of nuclear explosions? Is he also aware of the growing public anxiety here at home, and will he not take the intitiative in convening a conference in order that this matter may have the earliest possible consideration of the Powers concerned?
§ The Prime MinisterI, of course, am only just receiving the telegrams describing yesterday's meeting, and they are being carefully studied. They seem to me to give one ground for hope—the general tenor of the discussion yesterday. I observe that the Norwegian Government, for instance, suggested that there might be a system of registration of these explosions, and that is certainly, in our view, a point of view which ought to be carefully studied.
§ Mr. BevanHas the right hon. Gentleman seen a report to the effect that the United States Government are having private conversations with Soviet representatives on this and allied subjects, and are Her Majesty's Government privy to these conversations?
§ The Prime MinisterWe have had very close contact with the United States Government and private discussions with the United States Government, but I am not prepared, and I am sure that I shall 32 not be pressed, to say what has taken place in those private discussions.
§ Mr. BevanI did not ask that question. I asked whether Her Majesty's Government were aware of the nature of the conversations taking place.
§ The Prime MinisterThe right hon. Gentleman asked me whether I had seen a Press report. I do not know whether that Press report is accurate or not.
§ Mr. BevanWill the right hon. Gentleman try to be frank with the House? Is he aware that there are reports to the effect that private conversations on this and allied subjects—[H0N. MEMBERS: "When?"]—are taking place between the United States Government and the Soviet Government, and are Her Majesty's Government privy to these conversations?
§ The Prime MinisterI understand that there have been discussions on purely procedural matters with regard to the meeting of this committee between the Soviet Government and the United States Government. To those discussions we have been privy.
§ Mr. G. ThomasIs the Prime Minister aware that, whatever other discussions take place, the rest of the world which does not possess the hydrogen bomb, but which is menaced by these tests, would welcome a moral lead from this country on such an issue?
§ The Prime MinisterAs I have said, I think that the discussion at New York has been hopeful, and I am confident that the work of the Disarmament Sub-Committee will be assisted by the nature of the discussions at yesterday's meeting of the General Assembly.
§ Mr. BrockwayIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that my question, which he has answered with others, refers to general disarmament as well as to any action regarding the atomic or hydrogen bombs? Will the right hon. Gentleman, in view of the closer approach of the American and the Soviet proposals, take steps to try to bring about the reduction in defence costs which he desires by the most effective method, which is international disarmament?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. It was in reference to the hon. Gentleman's Question that I said, and I repeat, that 33 Her Majesty's Government still believe that the Anglo-French comprehensive plan offers the most satisfactory method of advance for dealing with the whole question of disarmament, conventional and unconventional.
§ Mr. GaitskellThe Prime Minister will recall that his predecessor assured us that his Government would be prepared to negotiate separately on the question of hydrogen bomb tests, apart from general disarmament. May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is the intention of the present Government to treat this matter in that way in the Disarmament Sub-Committee?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. Now that there has been this debate, and since the Disarmament Sub-Committee is to sit almost immediately, I think that it is in that sub-committee that the most likely progress will be made.