HC Deb 30 June 1959 vol 608 cc247-8
51. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the delays due to the technical examination of the problem of nuclear test control, he will propose to President Eisenhower and Mr. Khrushchev that they should now issue a declaration that the three Governments do not intend to resume nuclear explosions pending the establishment of an effective system of control, including a limited number of unrestricted inspections.

The Prime Minister

Our chief aim must be to reach a comprehensive agreement with an effective system of control. Meanwhile the Conference is continuing and no tests are taking place.

Mr. Henderson

Could not the Prime Minister agree that the making of this declaration by the three Heads of Government would itself greatly facilitate the achievement of agreement on control and inspection of nuclear armaments at the Geneva Conference?

The Prime Minister

I am not quite so sure about that. The Geneva Conference is going along slowly but steadily. Of course, there will come a point when there may be some vital decisions to be taken. I still believe that there is every chance of success. If there is, it is by far the biggest prize at which we can aim, because it gives us not merely the cessation of tests, which is good, but for the first time a system of international control upon which all future disarmament must be based. I feel that that prize is worth waiting for and working for, because it is the biggest of all.

Mr. Gaitskell

Is the Prime Minister aware that precisely because many of us have hopes that there will be a three-Power agreement on tests we feel that there is much to be said for my right hon. and learned Friend's suggestion that the negotiations may still take a long time and that it is vitally important that meanwhile no further tests should be made? Will he bear in mind the desirability of the kind of declaration which my right hon. and learned Friend suggests?

The Prime Minister

I will certainly bear it in mind as one possible course if full agreement cannot be reached, but I am still hoping that full agreement can be reached.

Mr. Gaitskell

With respect, the Prime Minister has misunderstood the point. The point is that, however long the negotiations may take, none of the three Powers would resume tests, pending the negotiations. Is there not a great deal to be said for that declaration?

The Prime Minister

We have made that declaration, with the United States Government—that so long as the Conference was continuing we would not make tests. If we could make that larger, of course. It is simply a question of what is the best method of negotiation and I do not think that at this moment for me to make this proposal would be the best method of bringing the negotiations to a successful conclusion, but I do not rule that out as one of the methods which may be used in these discussions.