HC Deb 26 March 1963 vol 674 cc1124-5
Q8. Mr. P. Noel-Baker

asked the Prime Minister what recent proposals he has made to President Kennedy and Mr. Khrushchev in pursuance of his invitation to them in February, 1962, to join him in accepting personal responsibility for the conduct of the disarmament negotiations in the Committee of Eighteen Nations.

The Prime Minister

Any communication I might have with President Kennedy or Mr. Khrushchev would be confidential unless it were published as, for example, was my letter to Mr. Khrushchev of 28th October.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Has the Prime Minister looked at the records of the Committee of Eighteen in recent times? Does he agree that the level of progress of the debates bears no relation to the urgency of the arms race problem as he stated it a year ago in his letter to Mr. Khrushchev?

The Prime Minister

Yes, I am aware that there has been great delay in spite of very great movements made by the West and some, I admit, return to previous positions by the Russians; but I am hopeful that we may be able to make better progress. It is a matter of great concern to me that it has been so slow.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Will the Prime Minister in the relatively early future, in view of the long time the discussions have gone on, be willing to take some personal initiative?

The Prime Minister

Of course the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers have taken part in this and I shall certainly consider carrying out the suggestion which has been made.