§ Q4. Mr. Mayhewasked the Prime Minister what machinery exists to co-ordinate the policies of the Foreign Office and Colonial Office with regard to the export of arms to South Africa from or through Colonial Territories.
§ The Prime MinisterArms cannot be exported from or imported into a Colonial territory except under licence. No case has come to my notice of a Colonial Government being asked to issue a licence for the export of arms to South Africa. An application for the export of repressive arms would be refused. In cases of doubt Her Majesty's Government's advice would be sought.
§ Mr. MayhewWe can assume, then, that no arms of a repressive kind have gone to South Africa from Colonial Territories?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that that would be a fair assumption.
§ Sir J. EdenWill my right hon. Friend assure us that we will continue to uphold our obligations to South Africa and help to maintain an effective defence of that part of the world? Concerning the co-ordination of policy between the Foreign Office and the Colonial Office, will my right hon. Friend make certain that the Colonial Office is particularly alerted to the dangers of subversion in Colonial and ex-Colonial Territories? Perhaps the Foreign Office will tell it something about that.
§ The Prime MinisterWhat has been happening lately in some ex-Colonial Territories is a matter of great anxiety. I have made our position clear on the question of arms to South Africa time and again.