HC Deb 12 June 1967 vol 748 c88
38. Mr. Luard

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government propose to ratify the two protocols to the agreement for a nuclear-free zone in Latin America.

Mr. Mulley

We welcome the efforts of the Latin American states to prohibit nuclear weapons from their territories and we are studying the text of the Treaty. We hope that we shall be able to associate ourselves with it by signing and ratifying the two Protocols.

Mr. Luard

Does my right hon. Friend agree that, in view of the difficulties that have faced the non-proliferation treaty in Geneva, one of the most effective ways of helping to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons is by assisting and promoting non-nuclear zone agreements of this type?

Mr. Mulley

I agree that non-nuclear zone agreements are very helpful, but I hope that my hon. Friend is not suggesting that they are a substitute for the general non-proliferation treaty, to the attainment of which we are working very hard.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

Will these agreements cover British still-dependent territories in the Caribbean?

Mr. Mulley

It is intended that all states within Latin America, including dependent territories, will be covered, and it will be on that basis that we should sign one of the protocols.