HC Deb 21 February 1963 vol 672 cc635-7
Q5. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate communications exist for for consultation between President Kennedy and himself, as well as with Mr. Khrushchev, in emergency; and what other measures he is proposing to reduce the risk of war by accident.

The Prime Minister

The proposals to reduce the risk of war tabled by the United States delegation to the 18-Nation Disarmament Conference at Geneva included the establishment of direct communications between Governments for us3 in an emergency. President Kennedy and I already have effective means of communicating with each other direct. Other measures included in the proposals concern the exchange of military missions, the advance notification of military movements and manoeuvres, the establishment of fixed ground observation posts, and additional aerial and mobile ground observation arrangements. We welcome and support these proposals, and I hope that we may see progress towards an agreement on them during the present session at Geneva.

Mr. Henderson

Do the proposals include a proposal for the establishment of direct radio-telephonic communications between President Kennedy, Mr. Khrushchev and U Thant? Does the Prime Minister agree that the establishment of such direct communications might well reduce the possibility of nuclear war as the result of accident or misunderstanding?

The Prime Minister

I think that it was for that reason that the broader proposals include direct emergency communication either by telephone or by teletype. The technical arrangements can easily be made if the general plan is acceptable to the Soviet Government.

Sir C. Osborne

Cannot the public be assured that the risk of war by accident is infinitesimal, and is not the right hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. A. Henderson) doing a disservice by frequently raising this unreal bogy?

The Prime Minister

I think that the risk of war by accident is certainly infinitesimal, but these proposals which include what I have described—informing each other of manœuvres and having military connections and communications between the two sides—will be helpful in reducing at least the risk of those kinds of tension which in the past have sometimes been the preliminary to war.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

Are not the scientists who have made these weapons now agreed that the risk of accidental war is by no means infinitesimal? Are the other measures which the right hon. Gentleman has mentioned, which have been put forward by the United States, proposed as part of a disarmament treaty or as measures to be taken in advance?

The Prime Minister

They can be taken either as a whole or separately. What the right hon. Gentleman said in the first part of his supplemenary question is rot my advice.

Mr. Henderson

rose—

Mr. Speaker

We must get on in the interests of other right hon. and hon. Members.

Mr. Henderson

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it not the custom of the House that, if an hon. Member makes an attack upon another who has asked a Question, one has the right to raise the same matter?

Mr. Speaker

The Prime Minister did not answer about that. I am extremely sorry, but we do not get enough Members' Questions answered if we allow multiple supplementaries.