HL Deb 20 July 1967 vol 285 cc359-61

3.6 p.m.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what supplies of aircraft and arms have been sent by Russia to Egypt and other countries of the Middle East, since the outbreak of hostilities on 5th June, 1967, and whether Her Majesty's Government have made any representations to Soviet Russia on the matter.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)

My Lords, I cannot comment on the quantities of aircraft and arms which have been supplied by the Soviet Union to the United Arab Republic and other countries of the Middle East since June 5. When Her Majesty's Government temporarily suspended arms shipments to the Middle East countries, other major suppliers, including the Soviet Government, were consulted about their intentions. No positive response was received from the Soviet Government.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that reply, may I ask whether he would not agree that there has already been enough war in the Middle East; that already there are far too many Arab refugees, and that the cost of any further increase in their number will fall on this country and on America and not on Russia or the Arab States? What action do Her Majesty's Goverment intend to take while Russia continues to re-arm Egypt for another round of war in the Middle East?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, of course Her Majesty's Government agree fervently that there has already been more than enough war in the Middle East, and we take full account of the points which the noble Lord raised about refugees. So far as any action we can take about the supply of Russian arms to the United Arab Republic is concerned, I can only say that it remains our policy to seek international agreement on the limitation of arms going into the area. But we have been unsuccessful so far in persuading other countries to join us in such an arms control agreement. We believe that at the moment the Soviet Government's motives for rearming the United Arab Republic are probably more diplomatic than military. But I agree that it is too early to form a definite judgment on this point.

LORD ROWLEY

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether discussions are taking place, or are to take place, between the United States Government, the Soviet Government, the French Government and Her Majesty's Government, the main suppliers of arms to the Middle East, with a view to achieving this agreement to limit the supply of arms into this particular area?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, there is no plan at the moment for any formal consultations of that sort between the four Powers mentioned by my noble friend. I can only repeat that we are very much in favour of an international agreement of this kind. We have made attempts in the past to seek such an agreement, both through the United Nations channels and by other means. But, as I have said—and I regret this very much—there has been no positive response to this proposal from the Soviet Union.

THE EARL OF DUNDEE

My Lords, would the noble Lord agree that if the Russians pursue their present policy there is bound to be an arms confrontation on the Canal for a period of time which cannot be foreseen, which might perhaps be the Russian intention; and does it not follow that we must base our policy, however much we do not like it, on that assumption?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, of course if the United Arab Republic and Arab countries continue to be supplied with arms, there is a very grave danger of a renewal of conflict in the area. I think that danger is a little further away than some might think, but it remains, and will do so so long as supplies of arms to the Middle East go on. But, as in many other things, this is not a problem we can solve on our own.

LORD BLYTON

My Lords, what is the Government's view of the situation in the light of Press reports to-day that Russia is to be given two naval bases in Egypt? Will this not further exacerbate matters?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I cannot comment on that report. We have no direct evidence of the development the noble Lord has mentioned. But certainly if this sort of thing took place it would make the situation in the Middle East much worse.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, while waiting for international agreement to be reached—since Russia's rearming of Egypt is likely to make more difficult the task of United Nations' observers in the Middle East—would not Her Majesty's Government be justified in raising this matter at the Security Council?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, we take note of the noble Lord's suggestion. But I am afraid that this whole business of the supply of arms is one that, from our point of view, we can only regard as a matter to be judged on each individual application for arms. The action we take to try to achieve international agreement, multilateral agreement, on this is a matter for further study. We may be able to do it, as suggested, through the United Nations, or through other channels. We shall pursue it, and any other suggestions on this matter, with great urgency.

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