§ 4. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he was consulted about the cancellation of the visit to London of General Laskov, the Israeli Chief of Staff; and what new arrangements are being made with the Israeli Government for such a visit.
§ Mr. HeathI was aware that General Laskov had been invited to lecture to a private organisation and that he had postponed his visit. As the visit was private the question of making new arrangements with the Government of Israel does not arise.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonWill my right hon. Friend assure me that no member of Her Majesty's Foreign Service asked for this visit to be cancelled, because my information is that there is a deep feeling of disquiet in the State of Israel as a result of the cancellation of the visit? Is he aware that it is thought in Israel that it was a futile attempt to conciliate Cairo, and will my right hon. Friend agree that we shall not win new friends in the Middle East by letting down the friends we have?
§ Mr. HeathI can assure my hon. Friend that there was no question of conciliating Cairo. The Government of Israel have announced that discussions of an informal kind did take place, and I think that the position is perfectly well understood.