HC Deb 24 May 1960 vol 624 cc214-6
45. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the failure of the Paris Conference and all other disarmament conferences since 1922, he will now give a lead to the world through limited disarmament by example, that is, by ending unilaterally the testing, manufacture, and stockpiling of nuclear weapons and closing bases for such weapons in Great Britain.

46. Mrs. Butler

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the failure of the Summit Conference, and in order to restore hope of peace to the world's people, he will give a new lead by taking steps towards the unilateral nuclear disarmament of Great Britain and a phased programme for the reduction of conventional arms and forces unilaterally.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir. Unilateral disarmament has never been, and is not now, the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. Allaun

Yes, but would not any risk in this policy be less than that involved in intensifying the nuclear armaments race, which is what we are doing? Secondly, do not these failures occur because the mutual suspicion is so great that neither side genuinely seeks disarmament so much as a military advantage or else a pretext for the breakdown of talks, and therefore only by means of example in deeds can we cut the vicious circle of one Government waiting for the other?

The Prime Minister

As I think the House and the hon. Gentleman knows, this is a matter of controversy. I am encouraged by the degree of support which the Government's point of view appears to be getting throughout the country and in this House.

Mrs. Butler

Would not the Prime Minister agree that the main objective of the Summit was to promote a climate which would encourage both nuclear and conventional disarmament. Is it not important now to circumvent the financial, economic and military forces which are seeking to return to the conditions of a cold war, and would not a lead like this from this country help to create a climate of peace which would make universal disarmament possible?

The Prime Minister

I think the lesson is that we should press forward with the conferences going on at Geneva, especially the one on nuclear tests, which is progressing not badly, and, I hope later, the disarmament conference. But I should not have thought that unilateral action on our part would be the best method to bring our full weight to bear on those discussions.

Mr. Langford-Holt

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind that a large number of people feel that words are not enough, in that in 1932 a pact was signed by 52 nations outlawing war and yet within ten years 90 per cent. of those nations engaged in a great war?

The Prime Minister

Yes. I think that is why we have to continue our labours to seek our end—which I think we are all agreed on—by a combination of faith, which we must have, caution and commonsense, which we also need.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Is not the Prime Minister aware of the eloquent appeal made to him not so long ago by the Leader of the Opposition for unilateral disarmament on bombing tests—for the unilateral banning of bombing tests? Is he aware that "unilateralism" is no longer a word that a very large number of people in this country are afraid of?

The Prime Minister

I do not think I ought to be drawn into discussing issues of that kind.