HC Deb 11 May 1959 vol 605 cc850-2
31. Mr. P. Noel-Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now lay a White Paper containing the texts of the proposals for the suspension of nuclear tests so far made by the Governments participating in the present Geneva Conference.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I regret that I cannot accede to this request for reasons already given to the House.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Does the Minister recall that on 27th April the Foreign Secretary gave what we understood to be a full account of the proceedings in the Conference? If this was the Foreign Secretary's interpretation of the proposals, ought we not also to have the text of the proposals?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

For reasons which were given during that debate, it is very difficult if we are having confidential and secret negotiations for one party to publish the documents which are the subject of the negotiations inside the Conference chamber.

Mr. Noel-Baker

If our Ministers are to give an interpretation of these proposals, is it not desirable that we should see the proposals? Is it not open to the Government to suggest to the other parties to the Conference that the proposals should now be published?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

We made such an approach early in the Conference and they were against such an action.

Mr. Bevan

Would the Minister make a further attempt? It is a very difficult position for the House. First of all we are informed that these are secret and confidential negotiations and then one of the parties to the negotiations tells us something of what is being said and done. That is an ironical situation. Ought we not to approach them once more to see whether we can have the working documents published in order that we may judge for ourselves?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

There is a genuine difficulty. One of the problems with which we are faced is our desire to try to give the House at least some information as to how the negotiations are going, but it seems to me that this is likely always to arise when confidential and secret negotiations are going on. It seems to me right that from time to time the Governments concerned—and that includes the Soviet Government and the United States Government—should give an indication of the policy which they are pursuing in the negotiations without necessarily disclosing the exact details of what is going on in the Conference.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Does the Minister recall that in July, 1957, the Government published a White Paper precisely at this time about the proceedings of the Sub-Committee of the United Nations on Disarmament? The conditions were precisely similar to those of this Conference. If we could do it then, can we not do it now? Can we not at least propose it to the other parties?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

As I indicated, we did propose it to the other parties but they did not think it a good idea. We will certainly bear it in mind. If a suitable moment arises during the Conference when it would be possible to publish the documents, we are quite prepared so to do, but that moment has not yet arisen.