8. Mr. Philips Priceasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the relative balance of forces now existing between Israel and the neighbouring Arab States, he will call a conference of the signatories of the tripartite declaration, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Poland, and Czechoslovakia, in order to secure that no further arms are sent to either side and that any military assistance sent to Iraq shall be sent on condition that it will be used only for strengthening Iraqi forces to meet possible disturbances in tribal areas to the north of her borders.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydThe hon. Gentleman has suggested what would certainly be an interesting conference. But I doubt very much whether his ingenious proposals for its terms of reference would find acceptance amongst the suggested participants.
Mr. PriceWill the Foreign Secretary give an assurance that, in any arrangements made in future in connection with armaments in the Middle East, Iraq will continue to receive some military assistance?
§ Mr. S. SilvermanWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman say why he is so pessimistic about the idea that all the parties interested who want a fair balance to be attained might well be interested in the cessation of any further arms race between them?
§ Mr. LloydI think the difficulty about the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question is that of attaining a fair balance. The point of my comment relates to the latter part of the Question.