§ 48. Sir L. Plummerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what answer he has given to the Israeli Government's request for anti-aircraft equipment.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerHer Majesty's Government are not prepared to disclose the details of particular requests or deliveries.
§ Sir L. PlummerIs the Minister aware that I did not ask him to do so? I asked him what reply he had given. Is he aware that the Israelis are menacing nobody? Also, is he aware that the peace of the world depends upon tranquillity in the Middle East? Why do the Government refuse to give defensive weapons such as anti-aircraft guns to Israel in her pursuit of peace and her defence?
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerIt is not the custom to disclose confidential diplomatic exchanges. With regard to the rest of the hon. Gentleman's questions, I have nothing to add to my original answer.
§ Mr. CallaghanHas not discretion been exercised about giving information? As anti-aircraft weapons can be of no interest 31 to anybody except a possible aggressor, what is the objection to telling us whether a request has been made, and, if so, whether the Government are willing to supply the weapons?
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerI would refer the hon. Gentleman to his right hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell), who, I think, originally gave this reply in 1950.
§ Mr. CallaghanHas time stood still since 1950?
§ Mr. ShinwellSince the hon. Gentleman has referred to me, is he aware that I regard his answer as completely unsatisfactory?
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerI am delighted that at last the right hon. Gentleman is so dissatisfied with himself.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonCan the hon. Gentleman say whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to supply such arms to Israel as are calculated to keep Israel on a basis of not less than equality with the Arab States? Can he tell us that without divulging any great secrets?
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerOn numerous occasions, almost weekly, the policy of Her Majesty's Government has been laid down from this Dispatch Box—in line with the Tripartite Declaration of 1950, when, I think, the right hon. Gentleman was Foreign Secretary.
§ 49. Sir L. Plummerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied that Israel still has qualitative equality in arms with the Arab countries; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerI have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the right hon. Member for Grimsby (Mr. Younger) on 18th July.
§ Sir L. PlummerAltogether apart from that, will the Joint Under-Secretary make clear what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to help Israel to counter the Centurion tanks which Her Majesty's Government are supplying to the Arab States? Will he tell us what efforts Her Majesty's Government are making to see that Israel is put into no more than a 32 strong defensive situation, which demands qualitative equality with the Arab States?
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerIt is not possible to go into details of the quality and quantity of supplies, logistics and communications and all the other factors involved.
§ Mr. ShinwellWhile there may be sound reasons for not disclosing details, will not the hon. Member agree on behalf of Her Majesty's Government that the present arms position between the State of Israel and the Egyptian Government is one of unbalance and that Egypt has an overwhelming superiority in arms?
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerNo, I do not agree, and if the right hon. Gentleman will look at the replies given by my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary over the last few weeks he will see why.
§ Mr. PickthornIs my hon. Friend aware that recently Mr. Ben-Gurion said that Israeli forces had more than doubled in the last eight years and that he did not think anything of the sort was true of the Arabs?
§ Mr. GaitskellIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Foreign Secretary's statement that the balance of arms was in favour of Israel has been strongly challenged by the Israeli Government and that they have given chapter and verse for their views? We are awaiting from the Foreign Secretary some further comment on the situation so that we might really know what the situation is.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerI am aware that the Israeli Government gave a Press conference and presented Israel's case. The Arabs, on the other hand, have justified large purchases from the Soviet bloc on the grounds that they were necessary to balance Israeli superiority.
§ Mr. GaitskellDoes not all that show the necessity for giving a really objective statement of Her Majesty's Government's opinion of the details of the balance of arms?
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerI suggest that the right hon. Gentleman should consult his hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, East (Mr. Crossman), who knew a great deal about this in our last debate on the matter.