HC Deb 25 April 1956 vol 551 cc1757-9
27. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Government of Egypt have received 19 motor torpedo-boats, 200 MiG fighters, 100 tanks, and six submarines from Czechoslovakia; and to what extent these supplies have been taken into account when deciding arms supplies to Israel and her Arab neighbours in accordance with the principles of the Tripartite Declaration, 1950.

Mr. Nutting

Her Majesty's Government are aware that Egypt has received substantial quantities of arms from the Soviet bloc. As regards the second half of the Question, I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeenshire, East (Sir R. Boothby) on 28th March.

Mr. Henderson

Why will the Government not be frank on this matter and tell the House whether, to maintain the balance of arms in the Middle East, they are taking into account the supplies to which the Question refers? Will the Minister state unequivocally whether the three Governments concerned are carrying out their responsibilities under the Tripartite Declaration by supplying comparable arms to Israel in order to maintain the balance of arms in the Middle East?

Mr. Nutting

I do not know why the right hon. and learned Gentleman should be confused about this matter. My right hon. and learned Friend made the position perfectly plain in saying, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeenshire, East: Her Majesty's Government will continue to supply, in accordance with the Tripartite Declaration, limited quantities of arms to Middle East States for self-defence, internal security, and the defence of the area as a whole. Deliveries are made in the light of these criteria, and of Her Majesty's Government's desire to avoid an arms race."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 28th March, 1956; Vol. 550, c. 198.]

Mr. Henderson

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether, in deciding the limited arms supplies to which he has just referred, the Government are taking into account the supplies that have been received by the Government of Egypt, as mentioned in the Question?

Mr. Nutting

Of course, we take into account what we understand and what we know to have been received by the Government of Egypt. We also have to take into account that it would be no service to Israel so to deliver arms to her that in the end result she found herself surrounded by a lot of Arab neighbours armed to the teeth by the Soviet Union and the Soviet bloc.

Mr. Shinwell

But is that not the present position? Does not the confusion arise because the Government ignore the facts of the situation, one of which is that Egypt and the Arab States are now in receipt of arms far in excess of anything in the possession of the State of Israel? Arising from the right hon. Gentleman's answers to Questions which have been addressed to him, from both sides of the House, is it not true that the Government have adopted a pro-Egyptian policy, which is not in the interests of peace?

Mr. Nutting

No, Sir. The policy of Her Majesty's Government in this matter is impartial, as I think the whole House knows. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] As to the situation in the Middle East, it is not as the right hon. Gentleman thinks, and Israel is not surrounded by a lot of Arab neighbours armed to the teeth against her.

Mr. Robens

Has the right hon. Gentleman recognised the danger to the State of Israel by the supply of submarines to Egypt, in view of its strong economic blockade? Does he not propose to supply Israel with at least the means of defence against these submarines—submarine chasers and things of that nature—which could not be described as offensive weapons?

Mr. Nutting

All deliveries of arms to any country in the Middle East area are taken into account by Her Majesty's Government in deciding their deliveries policy.

Several Hon. Members

rose—

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Victor Yates. Question No. 28.

Mr. Nicholson

On a point of order. Several supplementary questions have been asked from the other side of the House but not one from this side of the House.

Mr. Speaker

We are making extremely slow progress, and we ought to get on. Mr. Victor Yates.

Mr. Nicholson

Further to that point of order. I am sorry to delay the House, but is it not a little inequitable that all the supplementary questions on this important Question should come from one side of the House?

Mr. Speaker

That is not strictly true. A number of Privy Councillors have risen to ask Questions on the Opposition side. Mr. Victor Yates.

Mr. Shinwell

The hon. Member forgets that we are the Opposition.