§ 27. Mr. Donnellyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what communications were received by Her Majesty's Government, during the months July to October, inclusive, from the French Government regarding the military situation in the Middle East in pursurance of obligations under the Tripartite Declaration.
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreNo communication was received from the French Government about the military situation in the Middle East in connection with the Tripartite Declaration during the period mentioned. The House will already be aware that Tripartite consultations took place in Washington on 28th and 29th October.
§ Mr. DonnellyIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the acting Prime Minister refused to give the House an assurance that no member of Her Majesty's Government was informed by the French Government of a pending Israeli attack, and is he further aware that the acting Prime Minister's pointed refusal to do so is taken by many people as an admission that there was this prior knowledge by Her Majesty's Government? Does he not really consider that he owes it to the country to make a fuller statement than he has made?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreThat has nothing whatever to do with the Question which I was asked, which was whether the French Government passed on to us any information regarding the military situation in the Middle East. The answer is, "No."
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerWas it not one of the basic obligations under the Tripartite Declaration that full information about the supply of arms should be furnished, and does not the supply of arms affect the military situation? Is the Joint Under-Secretary of State telling us that the French Government did not tell us that they were supplying 60 Mystédre aircraft during the month of October, with ground crews and instructors, and that two squadrons of French F 84H jet fighters were to be stationed in Israel from 28th October to 12th November?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreThe right hon. Gentleman is now asking about military supplies to Israel. That is not the Question on the Order Paper.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerHas it not been recognised by all three Governments signatory to the Tripartite Declaration that the military situation inevitably depends upon the supply of arms?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI repeat that the question of the supply of arms is a different question, and I have not answered it.
§ 32. Mr. Donnellyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of our obligations under the Tripartite Declaration, what information was received by Her Majesty's Government regarding the supply of arms by France to Israel during the months of August, September and October.
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Ashfield (Mr. Warbey) on 26th November.
§ Mr. DonnellyDoes the hon. Gentleman seriously suggest that he knew absolutely nothing about these Mystére fighters?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreThat is not what I said in my Reply. If he will look at the Answer given by my hon. Friend on 26th November, he will see that he said:
As has frequently been stated in this House, we discuss with our co-signatories of the Tripartite Declaration and other friendly Powers the questions of arms exports to the Middle East." —[OFFICIAL REPORT, 26th November, 1956; Vol. 561, c. 5.]