§ 3.2 p.m.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I should like to ask a Question of the noble Earl the Leader of the House of which I have given Private Notice, namely: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any statement to make in regard to the allegation by the Prime Minister of New Zealand that he was not informed in advance of the nuclear test in the Pacific Ocean.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS AND LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, I welcome the opportunity of making a statement on this matter, particularly in view of Press reports which have appeared, both in New Zealand and in the United Kingdom. As your Lordships are aware, it is not the custom to make public the content of communications 1008 passing between the United Kingdom Government and Commonwealth Governments. However, in the particular circumstances, I see no harm in informing your Lordships that the Prime Minister received a message from the Prime Minister of New Zealand expressing regret that he had not been informed in advance of the date on which our first test in the Pacific was to take place. I have the permission of the Prime Minister to tell your Lordships that he sent a message in reply to Mr. Holland, drawing his attention to the facts that the New Zealand Government were told in January that the first explosion was likely to take place as soon as possible after May 10, and that during the weeks before May 10 final arrangements to get New Zealand observers into place at the right time were made through the New Zealand Government.
The precise timing of the test could not be determined more than a few hours in advance because it was dependent upon local meteorological and other factors. For this reason the United Kingdom Prime Minister himself did not know in advance the day or timing of the explosion. But from what I have said, your Lordships will see that the New Zealand Government had as close an indication of the approximate date of the explosion as circumstances permitted.
I should like to take this opportunity to state that the United Kingdom Government are deeply appreciative of the assistance which the New Zealand Government are giving in connection with these tests, and have given from the start.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, might I ask the noble Earl what advance information was given to the Australian Government?
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, the same information was given to the Australian Government. Mr. Beale, the Australian Minister of Supply and for Defence Production, is reported to have stated yesterday that the whole basis for the suggestion that the Australian Government were not properly informed was, to use his own words, "quite false", and that proof of this was that Australian observers were sent to Christmas Island shortly before the explosion and witnessed the test. I very much hope that this will finally dispose of this matter.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am much obliged for the noble Earl's answer. We are all anxious in this country to have no misunderstandings between us and the Dominions, and I should have thought that that is as near as one could possibly get to having last-minute information. Everything seeems to me to have been done that should have been done.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I am greatly obliged to the noble Viscount, because I think it is important to appreciate that we do our best to keep in the closest and most intimate consultation with the Commonwealth Governments. I hope that this reply which I have given will finally dispose of this matter, both here and in New Zealand.