HC Deb 26 June 1957 vol 572 cc207-8
34. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the recent supply of armaments to Egypt and Syria, he will state the present policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the international regulation of armament sales.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

While it might be possible to include provisions for international regulation of armament sales under some far-reaching international disarmament agreement, we have not yet reached the stage when such a question could be usefully discussed in detail.

Mr. Henderson

Is not it a fact that on 2nd November the United Nations General Assembly passed a Resolution calling upon all Member States to refrain from sending armaments into the Middle East? Is that Resolution still operative and, if it is, is not it a breach of that Resolution to supply Egypt with submarines?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

There is some doubt whether the Resolution of 2nd November is still in operation, but certainly it is entitrely against the spirit of that Resolution and indeed contrary to the protestations of the Soviet Government that they should send submarines to Egypt at the present time.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

After the First World War, was not there an Arms Sales Convention which provided for licensing and publicity of all arms exports? Would not it be very useful to have such a Convention at the earliest possible date?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I know that the right hon. Gentleman is a great expert on these matters and I therefore do not dispute what he said. All I said in answer to his right hon. and learned Friend was that at this stage in the disarmament discussions I do not think we could fruitfully get involved in a discussion about the general sale of armaments all over the world.

Mr. Shinwell

In view of the sale of submarines to Egypt by the Soviet Union, has not there been an upset in the balance of arms in the Middle East? As Her Majesty's Government have always desired to maintain a proper balance in arms in the Middle East, will they now try to achieve that situation by providing Israel with the necessary arms?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I am bound to say that that question does not arise out of the Question on the Order Paper.