HC Deb 09 July 1956 vol 556 cc26-7
38. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further action he proposes to take at the United Nations in regard to the recent incidents on the Israel-Jordan frontier.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

I think we must leave this matter to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation for the present.

Mr. Henderson

As the situation in the Middle East will become more and more dangerous so long as the Arab States are being supplied with great quantities of modern armaments while the Government of Israel—according to their statement—are being denied comparable qualitative armaments, is it not urgent that some action should be taken to stabilise the position in the Middle East?

Mr. Lloyd

I do not think that questions of the balance of supply of arms arise out of this Question. It looks as though the situation is quietening down again, and I hope that nothing will be said today to hinder that.

Mr. Robens

Last week the right hon. and learned Gentleman said that he thought that the balance of arms was in favour of the State of Israel. Can he say on what he based that thought?

Mr. Lloyd

I will, if the right hon. Gentleman puts down that Question, but it does not arise out of the Question on the Order Paper.