HC Deb 20 March 1961 vol 637 cc23-5
55. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Lord Privy Seal to what extent it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that disarmament negotiations should not be resumed for the time being, as proposed by the United States delegate to the United Nations.

Mr. Heath

The United States delegate to the United Nations proposed on 7th March that the Agenda at the resumed session should be limited to those items essential to the conduct of the business of the United Nations with the object of avoiding acrimonious debate and of improving the world atmosphere so as to promote serious negotiations on such subjects as disarmament. We entirely agree with his viewpoint.

Mr. Henderson

Is that consistent with the statement in the communiqué of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference, issued the day before yesterday, that, in its view, direct negotiations should be resumed without delay between the Powers concerned with disarmament? If that is the case, surely it is not the policy of Her Majesty's Government that they should wait until the situation is better?

Mr. Heath

My answer applies to the remainder of this session of the Assembly. President Kennedy himself suggested that negotiations should begin again in August, and I do not think that that would be in any way inconsistent with the Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conference communiqué.

63. Mr. G. M. Thomson

asked the Lord Privy Seal what communications he has had with the Government of the United States of America regarding the resumption of disarmament negotiations.

Mr. Heath

We are in constant touch with the United States Government on this subject through the diplomatic channel.

Mr. Thomson

Is the Lord Privy Seal aware that the emphasis on disarmament in the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference communiqué will be generally welcomed? Can he give the House an idea of Her Majesty's Government's view about the best date for resuming the disarmament negotiations? Can he also give the Government's view on associating China with the negotiations?

Mr. Heath

The President of the United States has suggested that the disarmament negotiations should be resumed on 1st August, and we think that will be a satisfactory date, if the Soviet Union is agreeable to it, to try to start negotiations going again. As to China, it is, of course, recognised that no agreement can ultimately be entirely satisfactory unless the Peking Administration of China is associated with it.

Mr. Healey

Will the Lord Privy Seal tell the House whether or not the United States Government were consulted in advance and agreed with the declaration on disarmament policy issued by the Commonwealth Prime Ministers?

Mr. Heath

The responsibility for issuing that declaration rests entirely on the Commonwealth Prime Ministers.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider letting us have quickly a White Paper containing that declaration and the other conclusions of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers?

Mr. Heath

That is a question for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations.

64. Mr. G. M. Thomson

asked the Lord Privy Seal what studies are taking place in his Department regarding the problems arising in the creation of a World Government to exercise authority over a scheme of international disarmament.

Mr. Heath

The problems associated with the question of international disarmament are under constant study in the Foreign Office.

Mr. Thomson

Is the Lord Privy Seal aware that that is as unsatisfactory as all the other answers that we have been getting from him on this subject for some considerable time? Will he not take disarmament more seriously than that and follow up the excellent declaration of the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference that there should be some really detailed work on the practical problems of disarmament and creating a world authority to go with it?

Mr. Heath

That is exactly what my answer said, that these problems are under constant study in the Foreign Office.