HC Deb 19 November 1958 vol 595 cc1133-4
25. Mr. Delargy

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why Her Majesty's Government have supplied the Government of Cuba with jet aeroplanes and tanks.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

No jet aeroplanes have been supplied to the Cuban Government. Her Majesty's Government agreed some months ago as a normal transaction to authorise sales of seventeen pistonengined aircraft by a British firm and fifteen Comet tanks from surplus stocks.

Mr. Delargy

Does not the right hon. and learned Gentleman know that civil war is raging in Cuba? Would it not be better to recognise this state of belligerency and to refuse to supply arms or to allow private firms to supply arms to either side?

Mr. Lloyd

There is a good deal of disagreement as to what is taking place in Cuba today, but I agree with the hon. Member that the situation has rather changed since these orders were given, and certainly any future requests of this sort will have to be examined in the light of the situation at the time.