HC Deb 02 February 1961 vol 633 cc1183-4
43. Mr. Mayhew

asked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to attend the resumed meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in March.

49. Mr. Healey

asked the Prime Minister if he will attend the resumed session of the United Nations Assembly on Disarmament in March.

The Prime Minister

As hon. Members will be aware, the Commonwealth Prime Ministers are to meet during the first half of March. I am therefore already heavily committed in the first part of March, and have no present plans for going to the General Assembly.

Mr. Mayhew

Does not the Prime Minister agree that high-level meetings at the United Nations in March could provide an opportunity for final agreement in the nuclear test convention? Does not he further agree that the parties are now very close together on this? Will he bear in mind that the danger of the Russians evading arms regulations which might not be completely watertight has to be offset against the danger of continuing the arms race without restrictions?

The Prime Minister

Yes, but the hon. Member will realise that with the new American Administration there will have to be some delay before we can again take up the detailed discussions in Geneva, and we must bear in mind the timing of that, because the most important thing is that the discussions should be fruitful and effective.

Mr. Healey

But if, as now seems likely, Mr. Khrushchev and Mr. Kennedy are likely to meet and to discuss these matters at the beginning of March, is not there a very strong case for the Prime Minister going to the United States, if necessary before the opening of the United Nations Assembly, in order to discuss these matters too? Would it not be unfortunate if a situation arose in which it was for Mr. Khrushchev to introduce the British Prime Minister to the new President of the United States?

The Prime Minister

With regard to nuclear tests, it is clear that there is no hope of having the conference brought to a conclusion until we are able to get going the adjourned discussions at Geneva. As I said, I think that there is a general agreement between the parties that the best hope is to allow the new American Administration to study the whole question and see what proposals they may make or agree to which would bring us to final agreement.