HC Deb 03 November 1958 vol 594 cc608-10
53. Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what part he will play in the Geneva talks on the cessation of nuclear tests.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

If as the discussions proceed the presence of Foreign Ministers seems necessary and desirable, I for my part am very ready to attend.

Mr. Swingler

Does the Foreign Secretary agree that there ought to be very good prospects now of reaching agreement on the subject of the stopping of nuclear tests, and, if progress is made on this subject, will he seize the initiative to try to convert these into wider talks involving the Foreign Ministers to make further progress towards a real relaxation of tension?

Mr. Lloyd

I think that there is a good prospect. One thing is that it has been agreed that the talks should take place in private and communiqués should only be issued or added to by agreement. That is the same procedure as with the scientific talks, and I think that it was a substantial element in their success. I chink that there are prospects of success, and we shall certainly lose no opportunity to try to broaden them if possible.

54. Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government will now put forward for the purpose of promoting international agreement on the cessation of nuclear tests.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

The proposals which our Delegation will put forward at Geneva will be based on Her Majesty's Government's public statement of 22nd August.

Mr. Swingler

Is it clear that Her Majesty's Government accept the findings and recommendations of the scientists' conference at Geneva and that they are putting forward a comprehensive proposal for the complete cessation of nuclear tests on the basis of the agreement of the scientists?

Mr. Lloyd

We accept the findings of the scientists, and if the hon. Gentleman will refer to the speech which I made on 30th October he will see the kind of subjects which, I think, need to be dealt with in the political agreement Which we are seeking.

Mr. Philip Noel-Baker

Are we to understand that the Government will put forward detailed technical proposals based on the findings of the conference in July and August?

Mr. Lloyd

Certainly the proposals which Her Majesty's Government will put forward will he in accordance with the findings. The findings dealt with the purely scientific side. Now they have to be clothed in a political agreement, and if the right hon. Gentleman will look at what I said, as reported in HANSARD, col. 326, he will see the kind of matters now to be dealt with.

Mr. Gaitskell

Do Her Majesty's Government insist that the tests must be suspended for one year at a time only, or are they prepared to consider a longer period?

Mr. Lloyd

As I said earlier, I think that one of the advantages of the discussion between the scientists was the fact that the negotiations took place in private, and I think that the same position should be preserved. We have declared our purpose, and I think that we must be given some freedom about how we negotiate.

Mr. Gaitskell

While I agree that there is a good deal to be said for private discussions, both the United States Government and the British Government have made public statements on this and we are anxious to ascertain if Her Majesty's Government would adopt a more flexible attitude than those statements imply. I take it from the right hon. and learned Gentleman's reply that that is the case.

Mr. Lloyd

I think that we shall approach the problems involved with the flexibility required.