§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether in view of the fact that the United States Arms Control negotiating team is negotiating on behalf of the NATO allies, and not only on behalf of the American Government, the British and other interested NATO Governments were consulted over the recent changes in that negotiating team.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Belstead)No. There have been no changes in senior appointments in the United States negotiating teams at the nuclear arms control negotiations in Geneva. But appointments to all such posts—including that of Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency—are a matter for the United States Government.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether in view of the fact that the United States Arms Control negotiating team is negotiating on behalf of the NATO allies, and not only on behalf of the American Government, the British and other interested NATO Governments were consulted over the appropriate reaction to Mr. Paul Nitze's "walk in the woods" exploration of Soviet attitudes.
§ Lord BelsteadIt is for the Governments of the United States and the Soviet Union to comment about the ideas exchanged informally between Ambassadors Nitze and Kvitsinsky. However, during a visit to London in 1982 by Professor Rostow, then the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, we discussed with him the signs of movement in Geneva.