HC Deb 11 June 1958 vol 589 cc197-8
43. Mr. S. O. Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how much British arms and military equipment has been supplied by Her Majesty's Government to the Government of Lebanon; and why.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

It is not the policy of Her Majesty's Government to reveal details of arms transactions with other Governments. The reasons for this were explained by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal in reply to a Question on 4th December, 1956.

Mr. Davies

Has not the right hon. Gentleman admitted this afternoon that arms are being supplied to this discredited Government of the Lebanon? Are not the Government aware that all such interference in the past has failed?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

Her Majesty's Government have for some time been a normal supplier of the Lebanese armed forces, and it would be an interference in the affairs of Lebanon to refuse to honour particular orders for arms which have been placed by the recognised Government of the Lebanese State.

Mr. Lipton

Has not the Minister seen the report in today's newspapers that one of the arrangements made between the Prime Minister and President Eisenhower in Washington is for the Lebanese Government to be supplied with twelve Hawker Hunter jet fighters?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I have not seen the report, but I do not see why the authorised Government of any country should not place orders for arms.

Mr. S. Silverman

Would the Minister bear in mind, first, that this principle has not always been honoured—particularly in the most tragic case of Spain, during the civil war—and, secondly, that to follow the principle of supplying arms of this character without conditions and control to any Middle Eastern Government that happens to be able to maintain itself in power and buy them would merely be to add enormously to the danger in what is already the most explosive area in the world?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I would say that the recent supply of arms to the Lebanese has been on a very small scale.