§ 61. Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet ascertained from the French Govern- 80W ment when they intend exploding their nuclear device, in view of the need for the authorities in British Colonies in West Africa to plan in time the consequential precautionary measures.
§ Mr. R. AllanNo.
§ 62. Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the Nigerian Government has conveyed its apprehensions to Her Majesty's Government regarding the proposed testing of a French nuclear device in the Sahara; and if he will take steps fully to acquaint President de Gaulle of their fears.
§ Mr. R. AllanI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon Friend to the hon. Member for Leeds, East (Mr. Healey) on 27th July.
§ 63. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the progress achieved at the Geneva Conference on the discontinuance of nuclear tests.
§ Mr. R. AllanYes. The Conference continues to make some progress. As regards the detection of high altitude tests, I would refer to what my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State, told the House on 20th July. It has been agreed that Vienna should be the headquarters of the control organisation. Progress has also been made in eliminating questions on which the Soviet delegation had been insisting on a right of veto; an outstanding point in this connection is finance.
As regards the staffing of control posts, the United Kingdom and the United States delegations have now proposed that staff should consist of one-third from the host country, one-third from non-nuclear Powers and one-third from "the other side"; so far the Soviet delegation is only prepared to accept ten foreigners altogether, that is to say it insists that two-thirds of the staff should be host country nationals.
The most difficult issue outstanding remains the detection of underground tests.