Nuclear Disarmament Conference (Hansard, 24 January 1972)

§ 15. Mr. Booth
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards the convening of the five-Power nuclear disarmament conference proposed by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics last June.

§ 54. Mr. Frank Allaun
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards the convening of the five-Power nuclear disarmament conference proposed by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

§ Mr. Anthony Royle
None, Sir. China made it clear in July last year that she would not attend such a conference. The proposal has now been overtaken by discussions in the United Nations General Assembly on a world disarmament conference.

§ Mr. Booth
As no progress has been made towards the five-Power nuclear disarmament conference, would the Minister agree that it is now urgent that we proceed to a European security conference on the basis of the Finnish Government's proposal? Would he assure the House that Britain will not be seen to be dragging her feet or acting as a stumbling block in the path of a European security 953 conference and that the Government will not lay down any preconditions for attendance which would make the conference impossible?

§ Mr. Royle
A European security conference is a different matter. Her Majesty's Government are prepared to start making preparations for a European security conference when the Berlin Agreements have been ratified and have gone through the German Parliament.

§ Mr. Frank Allaun
Three different conferences have just been mentioned. Could not the British Government take the initiative on one? I am thinking of the times when Arthur Henderson led the world for disarmament instead of taking a backward step, as we now seem to be doing.

§ Mr. Royle
The hon. Gentleman is not being very fair. The present Government played an active part in the conference which resulted in various agreements on Berlin. He will also realise that we have been active in collaboration with our allies, particularly in N.A.T.O., in discussions on the possibility of a European security conference.