HC Deb 01 December 1958 vol 596 cc841-2
38. Mr. Healey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to raise at the expert conference in Geneva the technical feasibility of the regional control of armaments as a means of preventing surprise attack.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

If the conference addresses itself to the technical discussions for which it was called, I have no doubt that this matter will be discussed.

Mr. Healey

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that surprise attack is just as likely at the level of limited local war as at the level of global war? This being so, can he say whether the British Government will submit proposals in this field for technical study at Geneva?

Mr. Lloyd

What we hope will happen at Geneva is that all methods of preventing surprise attack will be studied. I am afraid that we have not yet got down, on either side, to the stage of submitting proposals on particular matters.

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