HC Deb 08 February 1956 vol 548 cc1673-4
58. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what consultations are taking place between Her Majesty's Government and the United States Government with regard to the application of the Government of Israel for the supply of arms to the value of £17 million.

Mr. Nutting

I know of no such application. But, as I explained to the right hon. and learned Gentleman on 30th January, Her Majesty's Government are in close consultation with the United States and French Governments on the supply of arms to Middle Eastern countries.

Mr. Henderson

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been drawn to the report that the Government of Egypt have received 40 jet Ilyushin bombers and 25 to 30 jet MiG fighters? Does he not consider that the Government of Israel should be supplied at least with equipment of equal quality in order to permit them to undertake their legitimate self defence?

Mr. Nutting

I do not think that that question arises out of the Question on the Order Paper, which mentions a specific request of which I have no knowledge.

Mr. Gaitskell

Is the question of the supply of arms to Israel one of the subjects to be discussed between the signatories of the Tripartite Declaration— discussions which I understand are now taking place in Washington?

Mr. Nutting

That is not on the agenda of these specific discussions so far as I am aware because, in the jargon phrase, that has been under continuous review by the three Governments.

Mr. Gaitskell

Can we then expect a statement from the Prime Minister on this subject, and will he tell us, when he returns, what has been actually decided on the matter?

Mr. Nutting

I will see that that suggestion is conveyed to the Prime Minister.

Mr. Henderson

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to clarify his original reply? Did I understand him to say that the Government of Israel have not made an application for the supply of arms to the equivalent value of £17 million either to this country or to the United States Government?

Mr. Nutting

I said to the right hon. and learned Gentleman that I know of no such application, certainly so far as any application to this country is concerned. So far as application to the United States is concerned, as the right hon. and learned Gentleman knows, I am not responsible.

Mr. Henderson

But surely, if the right hon. Gentleman has said—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] I only want to get the matter clear. I understood the right hon. Gentleman to say, in a reply to me last week, that there were always close consultations between the three Governments when the Government of Israel or one of the Arab countries made application for arms. Therefore, if there has been an application to the United States Government, can we not expect that there will be close consultation between that Government and the British Government?

Mr. Nutting

I think I have been quite clear and have answered the Question which the right hon. and learned Gentleman put on the Order Paper. He mentioned a figure of £17 million. I know of no such application from the Government of Israel either to this Government or to the United States Government.