§ 6. Mr. Alisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will invite the United States Government to join in a new initiative to secure the banning of underground nuclear tests under proper conditions of inspection and verification.
§ Mr. M. StewartWe have already taken the initiative in making certain proposals to facilitate the conclusion of a comprehensive test ban. We hope that all states concerned will join in a constructive discussion of this subject when the Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Committeee reconvenes on 6th March.
§ Mr. AlisonDoes the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that any wider adherence to the nuclear non-proliferation agreement is likely to depend, in some measure at least, on the closing of this remaining gap in the test ban treaty? Will he instruct his right hon. and noble Friend who is responsible for disarmament to give this the very highest priority when the Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Committee resumes its meetings?
§ Mr. StewartWe have always realised that the real significance of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty depended on what steps were taken in other spheres of activity. That is why my right hon. Friend has been so active at Geneva in promoting this and other measures.
§ Sir H. Legge-BourkeWhen the Eighteen-Nation Committee meets again, will the right hon. Gentleman see whether he can have brought before it the progress which has been made at the Lincoln Laboratory in the United States, with the co-operation of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, on what is known as the Vela Uniform project for the identification of underground explosions?
§ Mr. StewartI should like to consider that.