§ 45. Mr. G. Jegerasked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the effects so far observed by official British observers of the recent Soviet hydrogen bomb tests.
§ The Prime MinisterNo official British observers have been invited to any Russian tests.
§ Mr. JegerHave not we been given to understand that British scientists are testing the atmosphere in order to discover the effects of these explosions and previous explosions? Will not the Prime Minister make the results of their investigations known to the world, in order that the non-Communist section, which does not regard everything that comes out of the skies from Russia as a blessing from heaven, might be assured of the correct position?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is not the Question that I was asked. I was asked what effects had been observed by official British observers, and my reply was that there were no official British observers. If I am asked whether I am prepared to give information as to what knowledge our scientists have obtained, I am afraid I must say that it would not be in the public interest for me to make any statement.
46. Mr. Leeasked the Prime Minister what guarantees he proposes to seek 366 against the testing of hydrogen bombs in the Atlantic Ocean.
§ The Prime MinisterNone, Sir.
Mr. LeeIs it not possible that other nations may decide that if there is as little danger from our tests in the Pacific as the Prime Minister has indicated, it would be no less dangerous to have tests in the Atlantic? Might it not be that we have also put ourselves out of court in arguing that in such a case our commerce would be incommoded.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir; I do not think that any Government would be so irresponsible as to wish to stage a test in the Atlantic Ocean, where it would cause a major interference with long-established shipping and air routes. The site for our tests was deliberately chosen because it is exceedingly remote from any inhabited place, and as far as possible avoids all shipping or air routes.
§ Sir L. Ungoed-ThomasIs the Prime Minister suggesting that the internationally recognised right of passage is confined to recognised trade routes?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is quite a different question. I was asked whether I would seek for guarantees against these tests being carried out in the Atlantic, and I replied that I did not think it necessary to do so.
§ Sir L. Ungoed-ThomasDoes not the right hon. Gentleman recognise that the question that I put to him arose not out of the original Question, but out of the Answer that he gave? Will he address himself to the question which I put, arising out of the Answer which he gave?
§ The Prime MinisterIf the hon. and learned Gentleman will put on the Order Paper a Question about this matter I will do my best to answer it.
§ 47. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Prime Minister how far it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to support the banning, as distinct from the limitation, of nuclear tests by international agreement without waiting for a general disarmament agreement.
§ The Prime MinisterIt is the view of Her Majesty's Government that the cessation of all nuclear test explosions should follow the prohibition of the production 367 of fissile material for weapons purposes as part of a general disarmament agreement containing an effective system of control.
§ Mr. HendersonDoes not the Prime Minister agree that the latest Russian proposals constitute a useful basis for negotiating a partial disarmament agreement? If that be so, will he not give an assurance that the Government will give the most sympathetic consideration to the Russian proposal for banning nuclear tests as part of that agreement?
§ The Prime MinisterThe latest Soviet proposals will, of course, be considered in the Disarmament Commission, to which I think they are really officially made. We are always in some difficulty in that the proceedings of that body are supposed to be confidential; that always makes our position a little more difficult in dealing with them. I would point out that although these proposals will certainly be considered, among others put forward, at present, so far as we can see, they call for a permanent or temporary ban upon tests without any of the safeguards which we think necessary.