§ 46. Mr. Swinglerasked the Lord Privy Seal if, in view of the inauguration of the new Administration in the United States of America, he will initiate discussions with the State Department about proposals for disengagement and limited arms zones as immediate measures designed to reduce tension.
§ Mr. Ormsby GoreWe shall, no doubt, be discussing a very wide range of matters with the new United States Administration in the coming months. It is part of the continuous progress of consultation with our great ally. I cannot forecast what particular subjects may be raised, and our attitude to the matters raised by the hon. Gentleman is well known.
§ Mr. SwinglerDoes the Minister realise that the attitude is not well known? Is he aware that the Prime Minister has from time to time put forward ideas about limited arms zones, for example, but it was understood that he dropped them because of the opposition of the Eisenhower Administration? Now that President Kennedy is in office and has started a useful exchange of conciliatory gestures with the Soviet Union, will the Foreign Office now undertake with the Prime Minister to restart the Prime Minister's campaign for limited arms zones? May we have an assurance about that?
§ Mr. Ormsby GoreIt is not really very wise to make quick answers on subjects like disengagement because, unless we define rather carefully what we mean by "disengagement", we can get into very deep water.
§ Mr. HealeyDoes the Minister recall that the Prime Minister himself had no difficulty in talking about zones of limited armaments in an agreed area of Central Europe when he signed the communiqué with Mr. Khrushchev? At least, is it not 50 per cent. up to Her Majesty's Government to decide which items will be discussed with the Government of the United States?
§ Mr. Ormsby GoreOf course, we shall decide to discuss a great many things with the United States.