§ Q3. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the continued deadlock at the Geneva Disarmament Conference, he will now propose to President Kennedy and Mr. Khrushchev that the outstanding differences be discussed at Foreign Ministers' level.
§ The Prime MinisterAs the right hon. and learned Gentleman will have seen, the British and American Ambassadors in Moscow saw Mr. Khrushchev last week in order to discuss outstanding questions connected with the conclusion of a treaty to ban nuclear tests. I hope that this may lead to a solution of one of the great outstanding problems between East and West. I would prefer not to go further at the present time.
§ Mr. HendersonCan the Prime Minister say whether the representations which have been made in Moscow cover not only the nuclear test ban conference but also the general disarmament conference? Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the lack of progress at both conferences necessitates some further initiative at a higher level than that at present being applied in Geneva?
§ The Prime MinisterI know how anxious the right hon. and learned Gentleman is that we should make some progress. The two Ambassadors, as I think is well known, called on Mr. Khrushchev with a communication as a result of agreement between President Kennedy 900 and myself. It was agreed that this should be kept confidential, at any rate for the present. We are now awaiting the results, and I would ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman not to press me any further.