HL Deb 18 September 1972 vol 335 cc715-6

2.54 p.m.

LORD KENNET

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 whether they will follow up the invitation to join in the Soviet-American Agreement on preventing incidents on the high seas which was extended to other countries by the Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet Navy, Admiral Gorshkov, in an interview with lzvestia on July 7.

THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEATH OFFICE (BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE)

My Lords, we welcome this Agreement. We hope in due course to take part in arrangements of this kind, about which we are in consultation with our other NATO allies.

LORD KENNET

My Lords, can the Government tell us anything to reassure us that the course will not be too "due"? Will the Government remember that the United States are not the only country with aircraft carriers, and that the Soviet habit of "bugging" aircraft carriers is a danger equally whether the carriers are ours or American and that we could benefit from this Agreement?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, I realise that the risk of incidents at sea as between the naval forces of NATO and the Warsaw Pact countries has become a serious practical problem in recent years. But we and our other NATO Allies are in close touch with the Americans over the negotiation of this Agreement.

LORD KENNET

My Lords, my Question referred to the apparent invitation of the Soviet Government to other countries to join in the Agreement. While no doubt it is very desirable to be in touch with the Americans, what is against taking up this apparent direct invitation by the Soviet Government to sign the Agreement?

BARONESS TWEEDSMUIR OF BELHELVIE

My Lords, the Agree- ment to which the Question refers is bilateral and it contains no formal acceptance clause. Third countries would there-fore have to negotiate separate arrangements.