§ 7. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations have been received from 975 the Soviet Government with regard to the proposed multilateral nuclear force; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe Soviet Government addressed a Note to Her Majesty's Government on 11th July on this subject. Similar Notes were addressed to some of our allies, and we are considering them in conjunction with our Allies.
§ Mr. HendersonIn view of the statement by the Minister without Portfolio in another place last week that the establishment of multilateral nuclear force would make national nuclear forces both unnecessary and unacceptable, may we take it that it is now the policy of Her Majesty's Government that if a multilateral force were established they would hand over all our national nuclear forces to that international force?
§ Mr. ButlerNo, Sir; that is a misapprehension of the nature of our own forces and the nature of the multilateral force.
§ Mr. MendelsonIn view of the recent proposals for an experimental study of other forms of multilateral nuclear force which have been advanced by Her Majesty's Government, will the right hon. Gentleman give his assurance that during the Recess and during the period when the present House of Commons will not exist Her Majesty's Government will not in any case or in any form commit this country to participation in an international multilateral nuclear force?
§ Mr. ButlerThere is no intention of taking a decision on a multilateral force at present.
§ Mr. HendersonAre we to take it from the Foreign Secretary's reply that he repudiates the statement by the Minister without Portfolio when he said that national nuclear forces would be unwanted and unnecessary if a multilateral force were established?
§ Mr. ButlerI have not read into my noble Friend's speech the interpretation given by the right hon. and learned Gentleman.