Stockholm Disarmament Conference (Hansard, 14 November 1984)

§ 7. Mr. Chapman
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest session of the Stockholm disarmament conference.

§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Richard Luce)
In the third session, which began on 11 September and ended on 12 October, the British Government, in close consultation with other Western delegations, continued their efforts to develop a detailed discussion on the practical confidence-building proposals tabled by the West at the outset of the conference. The neutral and non-aligned countries participated in this. To our disappointment the Eastern countries did not appear ready to discuss details either of these measures or of their own vague declaratory proposals. The conference resumed on 6 November.

§ Mr. Chapman
Will my hon. Friend confirm and stress that it was the United Kingdom Government who put forward specific and attainable proposals, such as the notification of the structure and deployment of military forces and the observation of military exercises, and that it was the Soviet Government who, sadly, not only failed to respond to those specific proposals but indulged in what can only be described as well-worn propagandist platitudes that have done nothing to build up confidence and trust between European nations?

§ Mr. Luce
I can confirm that it was the United Kingdom Government, in conjunction with our Western allies, who earlier this year put forward practical proposals designed to enhance the exchange of information about the structure and deployment of forces and of the mandatory observation of regular military activities. The purpose of those proposals is to build up trust and to try to reduce misunderstanding and the element of surprise that could arise as a result of potential aggression. So far, we have simply had declaratory measures from the Soviet Union and the Eastern bloc and a total unwillingness to talk about those practical measures. We have the political will; the test is whether they have.

§ Mr. George Robertson
Does the Minister agree that the re-election of President Reagan at least allows a new opportunity urgently to reopen talks on arms reduction, but that the serious problem will now be to persuade the Soviet Union that the "evil empire" type of rhetoric has ended and that the President and his Administration mean business? Will he take every opportunity in Stockholm and elsewhere to convince our allies of their responsibility to show that we are all interested in reducing tension and arriving at the agreements that are so urgently necessary?

§ Mr. Luce
I must agree that the re-election of President Reagan gives a renewed opportunity for the Western world and the United States to pursue the question of arms control with the utmost vigour. I believe that the President of the United States wishes to do that and I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we shall continue to work closely with the United States in supporting, for example, its proposals that there should be discussions of arms restraint in outer space and in urging the Soviet Union to be sensible enough to come back to the negotiating table, which must surely be in its interests.