HC Deb 17 July 1967 vol 750 cc1517-8
5. Mr. Dodds-Parker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further discussions he has had with the United States and Russian Governments about a non-proliferation treaty and the explosion of a Chinese hydrogen bomb.

62. Mr. Ridsdale

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any further progress has been made with a nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

94. Mr. Frank Allaun

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest developments in the negotiations for a nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Mr. William Rodgers

My right hon. Friend has recently discussed the treaty with the American Secretary of State and there have been a series of East-West meetings on the subject. We believe that it should be possible to get a treaty on the table at Geneva in the near future. Although we have not discussed the Chinese bomb directly with the United States or the Soviet Union, our position is well known.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

Does that mean that in the meantime the views of our non-nuclear N.A.T.O. allies have been fitted into the draft Treaty?

Mr. Rodgers

As I think the hon. Gentleman knows, discussions are going on the whole of the time. There are some very difficult problems to be overcome and our N.A.T.O. allies are involved.

Mr. Frank Allaun

To help overcome German resistance in Bonn, would the Government consider announcing their readiness to accept inspection on the same terms as is being demanded of the non-nuclear Powers?

Mr. Rodgers

We have made clear our views on inspection. Although I would concede the point made by my hon. Friend, that the Germans have had some reservations, there is a prospect that these may be overcome.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

Are countries like Germany, Israel and India asking for absolute guarantees of their frontier before they will sign a separate treaty?

Mr. Rodgers

I do not think that the position is quite that at the moment, but discussions are going on. There is an attempt to move and this is an area in which there is a great deal of room for manoeuvre and scope for discussion and amendment, not only to try to meet the needs of the two main countries involved, inevitably the Soviet Union and the United States, but also countries like India and others mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman.