§ 99. Mr. R. Harrisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the German Government or German private enterprise will be permitted, under the Bonn Agreement, to produce atomic material suitable for the manufacture of atomic bombs and other atomic weapons; and what steps are proposed by Her Majesty's Government to ensure that adequate supervision is maintained by the western occupying powers over such activities.
§ Mr. NuttingThe Bonn Conventions must be read in conjunction with the European Defence Community Treaty. Under Article 107 of the latter, atomic weapons and nuclear fuel suitable for atomic weapons may only be produced in strategically exposed areas, such as Western Germany, with the unanimous approval of the European Defence Community Council. At present atomic energy is controlled by the three Occupying Powers under Allied Law No. 22. In a letter dated 27th May, 1952 (Appendix C to Command 8570) Dr. Adenauer undertook that the Federal Government would introduce legislation to prohibit the development, production or possession of atomic weapons. He also undertook to introduce legislation prohibiting the import or production of nuclear fuel except in very small quantities which would not permit the production of atomic weapons.