§ 56. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the British representative at the Disarmament Sub-Committee is refusing to deal separately with the suspending of hydrogen-bomb tests but, instead, is insisting that such an agreement be conditional on ceasing to manufacture nuclear weapons.
§ Commander NobleThe Four-Power statement tabled in the Disarmament Sub-Committee on 2nd July makes the suspension of tests subject to agreement on its relationship to other disarmament provisions, including the cessation of production of fissionable material for weapons purposes. This is because, without this link, there would be no brake on the growth of existing stockpiles of nuclear weapons, and those powers whose weapon development is furthest advanced would be left with a permanent military advantage over all other powers. This does not mean that there can be no suspension of tests until nuclear weapon production is actually stopped as well. It 69W means that there must be a commitment now on the future cessation of weapons production under conditions to be agreed.