§ Q6. Mr. Ioan L. Evansasked the Prime Minister what consideration he has given to a recommendation made at the 14th Pugwash Conference on science and world affairs, a copy of which has been sent to him, that an international year for the preparation of disarmament should be organised; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterHer Majesty's Government are still studying the recommendation made at the fourteenth Pugwash Conference that an International Year for the Preparation of Disarmament be proclaimed by the United Nations.
§ Mr. EvansI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. As today he is attending the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference, will he, in addition to considering the situation in Vietnam, seek support for this idea at the conference and support for the idea suggested at the United Nations Disarmament Commission that there should be a world disarmament conference? Does he realise that at today's conference a quarter of the world's population is represented and that such a call would be greeted by people throughout the world?
§ The Prime MinisterI have said that we are studying the recommendation. Frankly, all our efforts in this matter at the moment are being put into trying to get the Disarmament Conference at Geneva to reconvene. I think that that is the place where we may hope for progress and we shall have ideas to put before it in terms of the sheer urgency for disarmament. That is the thing we shall be concentrating on. I hope that it will be possible for the Commonwealth Prime Ministers to discuss the matter. I shall be surprised if we do not under the general heading of world affairs which we shall be debating.
§ Mr. Philip Noel-BakerDoes my right hon. Friend understand that this proposal is a recognition by the eminent scientists who run the Pugwash movement that the general public and many people in responsible positions do not adequately understand the great dangers of the arms race and of accidental war? Will he consider putting this plan forward to the United Nations General Assembly when he attends it?
§ The Prime MinisterThe consideration mentioned by my right hon. Friend which led to this initiative by the Pugwash scientists is very much in our minds in considering this question. I agree with him that there is not enough realisation in any country of the paramount need for disarmament but I think that he, at any rate, can feel that, if anyone is responsible for that, it is not he himself in view of the work he has done for disarmament during a lifetime of public service.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasCan the right hon. Gentleman give us any indication of when the 18-Nation Disarmament Conference at Geneva is likely to be reconvened, since nothing of any practical value concerning arms control and disarmament has come out of the United Nations Commission which has been sitting in New York?
§ The Prime MinisterI have been scrutinising the reports of the Commission to see if I could give a favourable answer to the right hon. Gentleman's Question. As he will be aware, there were discussions yesterday and an initiative taken in favour of a return to Geneva. I think that I am right in saying that the Soviet delegation abstained but we have hopes that it can be persuaded to return to Geneva.
I agree with what the right hon. Gentleman has in mind—that it is at the more intimate Geneva level that we can hope to make progress and not at a world forum. But perhaps the talks have done something to stir up interest in this question.