§ Q3. Mr. Martenasked the Prime Minister if he will now make a statement on the proposal that India should be given a nuclear guarantee.
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to previous statements on this subject.
§ Mr. MartenWould the right hon. Gentleman recall that the last time he answered that question he said that he would deal with it in the debate which followed that Question Time, but in fact he did not deal with it? Some of us are getting anxious about what is happening here. Could he give us a little more information about whether there is any progress or not?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is not for me to express any comment on the anxiety which hon. Members opposite are suffering. We attach great importance, as I have said, to this. I am sure that the hon. Member realises the very great difficulties of securing anything in the nature of a nuclear guarantee. I have nothing to add to what I have said today, and I had nothing to add in the debate.
§ Mr. HendersonIn view of the importance of this subject, would it be the policy of the Government to discuss with the United States Government and the Soviet Union the possibility of a guarantee of the nuclear security of nonnuclear Powers as part of a non-dissemination agreement?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. This is, of course, highly relevant to the 18 Nation Disarmament Conference which is to meet at Geneva in the near future, and the question of nuclear assurance of this kind is relevant to an anti-dissemination agreement.