HL Deb 28 July 1965 vol 268 cc1303-4

3.5 p.m.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what proposals for the non-dissemination of nuclear weapons are being made to the 18-Nation Disarmament Conference at Geneva and what contribution towards disarmament Her Majesty's Government intend to make.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)

My Lords, no proposals of non-dissemination have yet been made to the 18-Nation Disarmament Committee, which reassembled at Geneva yesterday. I have been discussing with our allies the draft of a non-dissemination treaty which we hope to present to the Committee. The Prime Minister described in another place on July 19 the subjects which we should like to see discussed in the Disarmament Committee. I hope to impress them on the Committee tomorrow, after outlining them to your Lordships later to-day.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, is my noble friend aware how much we appreciate the initiative which the British Government are taking in this matter and how much we wish him success in the negotiations which he is beginning? Does the provision in the British draft proposals for non-dissemination to groups of States mean that the Government are prepared to reconsider their plan for a NATO sharing arrangement which would involve non-nuclear nations, including Western Germany?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his good wishes. So far as the second half of his question is concerned, I think that while the negotiations and discussions are going on at Geneva I should not want to prejudice them by saying too much about the details at this stage. I shall, however, have something further to say about the general outline later this afternoon.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend, without asking for an assurance during the course of the negotiations, whether the British proposals involve any guarantee of protection, either international or regional, to countries such as India which agree not to develop nuclear arms?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, my noble friend is very persuasive, but these are indeed issues that are at stake in Geneva, and clearly it would be irresponsible for me to begin to discuss them now while these important negotiations are still going on.

LORD REA

My Lords, since the Minister referred to a proposal he had on which he consulted allies, could he tell us which of our allies he has consulted, and does it include France?

LORD CHALFONT

So far, all the members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation are included.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, can my noble friend tell me how he reconciles the non-dissemination policy with the employment of a super-salesman in armaments?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, if the noble Lady would like to put that down as a separate Question, I shall try to answer it