§ 5. Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will put forward at Geneva proposals for international control of chemical weapons, along the lines of the 1972 Treaty on Biological Weapons.
§ 39. Mr. Peter Archerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will initiate discussions at Geneva with a view to the adoption of an international convention on the control of chemical weapons other than biological weapons.
§ The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Joseph Godber)The problems of the international control of chemical and biological weapons are not the same. Her Majesty's Government are seeking ways to make progress towards an effective agreement on chemical weapons.
§ Mr. DalyellWhat precisely is the British objection to the Russian draft?
§ Mr. GodberThe precise objection is that the two matters are totally different. Verification is essential if we are to have effective control of chemical weapons. If the Russians work with us on verification we might make some progress.
§ Mr. ArcherWould it not be a helpful beginning if the Government were to announce now that on reflection they have decided that CS2 gas is within the Geneva Convention?
§ Mr. GodberI do not think that that arises on this matter. This is a matter to which we are giving consideration, but it would not affect in any degree the progress we make on the CW arrangements.