HC Deb 17 June 1959 vol 607 cc426-7
27. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will consider negotiating with the leading non-nuclear Powers to renounce the manufacture, ownership, and use of nuclear weapons and further encouraging the success of these negotiations by declaring that Great Britain will, in any case, cease the manufacture and stockpiling of these weapons.

18. Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what fresh efforts are now being made to prevent the development of atomic weapons by non-nuclear Powers; and whether the Government will consult with the non-nuclear Powers to prevent such extension.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

Her Majesty's Government consider that problems of this kind can best be dealt with as part of comprehensive disarmament. As a first step in that direction they hope that agreement can be reached on the ending of all nuclear weapon tests.

Mr. Allaun

Unless unilateral action is taken, is it not likely that within the next ten years a dozen countries will have the bomb, enormously increasing the danger of some little Hitler obtaining it or some commander misinterpreting a signal or situation? Does not the unhappy record ever since 1922 point out that unless one nation is prepared to give an example we will never cut the vicious circle?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

Some of the statements of the hon. Member we take very much into account—for example, the question of the spreading of nuclear weapons to a great number of nations. We must, however, take one step at a time, even if it is only a comparatively small one. I still feel that if we could get an agreement to stop nuclear weapon tests under effective international control, that is the best possible first step we could take.

36. Mr. Warbey

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the policy of the Government regarding the extension of nuclear weapon-making ability to members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation not at present possessing or manufacturing nuclear weapons.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

Subject to the limitations contained in the Brussels Treaty, this is a matter for the individual Governments to decide.

Mr. Warbey

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the United States Government are entering into agreements with a number of N.A.T.O. countries, including, for example, Greece, to supply them with classified information about nuclear weapons and non-nuclear parts of nuclear weapons? In view of his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun), who was expressing concern about the possibility of the extension of nuclear weapon-making ability to other countries, what action have the Government taken to protest to the United States about this?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I think that the hon. Member is slightly confused over this. The discussions are to take place with regard to the weapon-carrying vehicles and not to the nuclear weapons themselves. There is no proposal, as far as I know, by the United States Government to help or encourage any other country outside the United Kingdom to make nuclear weapons.