§ 45. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Prime Minister whether, in order to avoid worsening the prospects for the Summit Conference, he will propose to President Eisenhower a joint undertaking not to resume nuclear test explosions.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI have been asked to reply.
No, Sir. Our objective is to get an agreement for the cessation of tests under international control.
§ Mr. AllaunDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that, following the President's recent statement, a resumption of 366 tests by America would have serious repercussions? Will the British Government, therefore, appeal to President Eisenhower not to resume these tests at least before the coming talks, as that would worsen the chances of a permanent ban being agreed on?
§ Mr. ButlerThe main prize for which we are working, namely, the general treaty to which I refer, could be jeopardised by a declaration such as the hon. Gentleman desires. I should like to assure the House, meanwhile, that the declared policy of Her Majesty's Government is not to authorise the resumption of tests so long as useful discussions continue in the conference on the discontinuance of nuclear tests.