§ 45. Mr. Lewisasked the Prime Minister what information he gave to the Prime Ministers of the Commonwealth countries regarding the dates of Great Britain's hydrogen bomb tests; and whether in the future he will ensure that on matters of such importance he will keep the Commonwealth Prime Ministers fully informed of Great Britain's actions and intentions.
§ Mr. SandysI have been asked to reply.
All Commonwealth Governments have been fully aware of our intention to carry out these tests. Those most closely concerned, namely Canada, Australia and New Zealand, were given information as to the approximate date of the first test and they sent observers to witness it.
§ Mr. LewisIf that is the case, why did the New Zealand Prime Minister claim that he did not know about the tests or the date of the tests? Why did the Prime Minister send the Prime Minister of New Zealand an apology after this Question appeared on the Order Paper? Why did the Prime Minister apologise if all the Commonwealth Prime Ministers knew?
§ Mr. SandysThe hon. Member has failed to notice that he himself has a Question on that very subject, the next one on the Order Paper.
§ 46. Mr. Lewisasked the Prime Minister if he is aware of the concern expressed by the Prime Minister of New Zealand at the failure of Her Majesty's Government to inform the Government of New Zealand of the dates of Great Britain's hydrogen bomb tests; and whether he will give an assurance that closer contact will be maintained in the future.
§ Mr. SandysI have been asked to reply.
407 I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made on this subject by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21st May.
§ Mr. LewisBeing aware of that statement, being aware that I have put down a Question, and being aware that an apology was delivered after I put down the Question, may I now ask the acting Prime Minister whether he will answer the Question? Why did the New Zealand and other Commonwealth Prime Ministers complain that they were not informed and knew nothing about it? If they were informed, why has the Prime Minister sent an apology to the Prime Minister of New Zealand?
§ Mr. SandysI think that the last part of that supplementary question referred to an earlier Question— [Laughter.] The subject matter of Question No. 46 is New Zealand. I draw the hon. Member's attention to the statement made by the New Zealand Prime Minister. Mr. Holland, who said:
So far as I am concerned, the whole matter is satisfactorily settled.There was undoubtedly a misundertanding. The information given to the New Zealand Prime Minister was exactly the same as the information given to the Australian Government, and Mr. Menzies, in a reply in Parliament in Canberra, said that the United Kingdom Government had been meticulous in keeping Australia informed of the Christmas Island hydrogen bomb explosion.