§ 45. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Prime Minister if, in order to reach agreement with the two other nuclear Powers, and for other reasons, he will permanently stop all British test explosions of atom and hydrogen bombs forthwith.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)We hope that the Geneva Conference will lead in due course to the final termination of all nuclear explosions.
§ Mr. AllaunJust as yesterday a welcome compromise was successfully reached, will the Prime Minister now consider a compromise offer of three or four years' halt and thus avoid the suspicion attached to the present one-year offer?
§ The Prime MinisterThe conference is now sitting. I do not think it would be right for me to say anything which might prejudice negotiations in any way. I can only reaffirm what Her Majesty's Government made clear in their note to the Soviet Government on 20th October, which was:
It is the sincere wish and earnest hope of Her Majesty's Government that the Geneva Conference will make sufficient progress to justify expectations that the final termination of nuclear test explosions may in due course be achieved".
§ 51. Mr. Masonasked the Prime Minister how many nuclear and thermonuclear tests have been conducted by this country since the standstill was made and operated by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
§ The Prime MinisterI cannot add to the information which has been published on this matter.
§ Mr. MasonIs it not a disgraceful reflection on Her Majesty's Government, and on the Government of the United States, that following the Geneva Conference of scientists, which proved that 766 tests cannot go on undetected, we should race ahead with a heavy firing programme? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that that action alone will have jeopardised the success of the present talks?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.