§ 29. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent Her Majesty's Government approve of the official proposals for nuclear disarmament made recently by the Government of Ireland at the United Nations General Assembly.
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreHer Majesty's Government sympathise with the wish of the Government of the Irish Republic to make a contribution towards solving the problems of disarmament. We do not, however, feel that this particular proposal would achieve the desired result. The resolution embodying this proposal was withdrawn by the Irish Republic before the United Nations Assembly had the opportunity to vote on it as a whole.
§ Mr. HughesWas there not a vote on this issue at one point and did not the Government abstain from voting? Can the Minister tell us exactly why? Does he not agree that Ireland is so near this country that if we decide to commit suicide as a nation by entering into a nuclear war the Irish may be obliterated. too?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreWhat happened at the United Nations was that one preambular paragraph was voted on and before the resolution was voted on as a whole the Irish Republic withdrew it. The reason we were not in favour of the resolution was that which I gave in the original Answer. We did not think that this particular proposal would achieve the desired results.