§ 28. Mr. Shinwellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the delay in reaching agreement at Geneva on the suspension of hydrogen-bomb tests, Her Majesty's Government will announce their intention to abandon further tests.
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreHer Majesty's Government still hope that an agreement will be reached which would cover all nuclear tests and not just hydrogen-bomb tests. We are not prepared unilaterally to abandon our right to hold nuclear tests without such agreement, but we have stated that we do not propose at present to resume tests.
§ Mr. ShinwellThat means that it is the intention of the Government not to proceed with any tests in the immediate future and, possibly, not at all. Would it not be better to come clean and announce our intentions in that respect so that the world will know what the United Kingdom Government think about these matters? What is the point of keeping the country on tenterhooks?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreTo announce now that, whether there is agreement about control or not, we intend in any case to stop all tests would not be a satisfactory way of carrying on the negotiations.
§ Mr. BevanIn view of the fact that during the lifetime of the conference no tests are taking place, can we get an assurance that there will be no ending to the conference until an agreement has been reached, because that seems to be the most effective way of stopping the tests?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreWe certainly intend to go on with the conference as long as we can see prospects of reaching agreement.
§ Mr. ShinwellSurely, the right hon. Gentleman does not mean that in the event of failure to reach agreement about the suspension or abandonment of tests the United Kingdom Government propose to proceed with further tests.
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreWhat would happen if we failed to get agreement would have to be considered at the time, but to make a declaration now that 429 under no circumstances will we ever carry out tests again would not be helpful.