HC Deb 01 April 1968 vol 762 cc15-6
14. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further progress has been made in the 18-Nation Disarmament Committee at Geneva towards agreement on a non-proliferation Treaty; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mulley

The 18-Nation Disarmament Committee submitted its report, together with a revised draft Treaty and proposals for security assurances, to the United Nations on 14th March. A copy of this report has been placed in the Library. It will be considered at a resumed session of the General Assembly which is expected to start on 24th April.

The revised draft Treaty incorporates a number of amendments and in particular strengthens the commitment of signatories to pursue negotiations for further measures of disarmament. I hope that the Treaty will be opened for signature shortly after the conclusion of its consideration in the General Assembly.

Mr. Hooley

Will the Minister accept that this progress is extremely welcome? Can he say whether assurances given to non-nuclear Powers about some kind of protection by the nuclear Powers will be sufficient to persuade them to adhere to the Treaty? What further initiatives in disarmament have the Government in mind?

Mr. Mulley

I am much obliged to my hon. Friend for his kind remarks. On the question of security assurances, these will be set in the framework of the United Nations Security Council and, as far as one can judge, should suffice to give the assurance to non-nuclear Powers for which my hon. Friends asks. As to further proposals for disarmament, we still have a little way to go before we have this Treaty satisfactorily signed. I hope thereafter at Geneva that a whole range of projects, including a comprehensive test ban treaty, for example, can be further pursued.

Mr. Biggs-Davison

Since two of the nuclear Powers will have nothing to do with this Treaty, ought not our enthusiasm to be a little restrained?

Mr. Mulley

I am sure that we should have every reason to be more enthusiastic if we had the full support of China and France, which I agree we are unlikely to get.

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