HC Deb 01 December 1959 vol 614 cc1005-6
47. Mr. Healey

asked the Prime Minister to what extent he consulted President de Gaulle regarding the resolution proposed by Her Majesty's Government's representative at the United Nations Assembly concerning French adherence to a nuclear test ban.

The Prime Minister

The French delegation at the United Nations Assembly was informed of the text of the resolution sponsored by the United Kingdom, Italy and Peru.

Mr. Healey

Is the Prime Minister aware that President de Gaulle publicly rejected the British proposal on the very day it was made? Would not he agree that the Government's policy for stopping the spread of nuclear weapons is to quote a favourite phrase of his own, a nonstarter unless he can give General de Gaulle some new incentive for agreeing to it, such as the Labour Party proposed in its statement on disarmament last summer?

The Prime Minister

As a general agreement, the first step is to try to bring our discussions and negotiations at Geneva with the three great nuclear Powers to a successful conclusion. I am happy to feel that we are moving along, steadily though slowly, and that progress is being made.

Mr. Healey

We all agree on that, but is the Prime Minister satisfied that he is making any progress whatever in persuading President de Gaulle to accept the policy of Her Majesty's Government as embodied in the resolution at the United Nations?

The Prime Minister

That is a subject that we will have an opportunity of discussing with President de Gaulle in about a fortnight's time.

Mr. Bevan

How can we expect the President of France to take unilateral action that we ourselves refuse to take?

The Prime Minister

I still think the first thing is for the great nuclear Powers, who are far advanced in this matter, to make their agreement. When they have made it, which I profoundly hope they will be able to do, they will be in a far stronger position to ask others to join.

Mr. Bevan

Why does the Prime Minister not answer my question? Is not it a fact that the United Nations is anxious that France should not proceed with this nuclear test? How can we or the United Nations expect France to take action that we ourselves refuse to take?

The Prime Minister

At the present moment, we are not, as the right hon. Gentleman knows, engaging on any nuclear tests, and we have undertaken that we shall not do so at present. But I still think that the conclusion of the Geneva agreement is the essential preliminary for any real advance in this field.