HC Deb 25 July 1967 vol 751 cc323-4

Q7. Mr. Moonman asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the desirability of convening a meeting of Heads of State from those nations who have helped to arm the Arab States and Israel, with a view to bringing about on embargo on all such deliveries.

The Prime Minister

Her Majesty's Government have made clear on many occasions that they are willing to consider any steps which might lead to an effective control of arms deliveries to the Middle East. Unfortunately, we have no indication that an early meeting of the kind suggested by my hon. Friend would be likely to lead to positive results.

Mr. Moorman

As this country was one of those who urged a cease-fire on Israel, would my right hon. Friend agree that we have a unique responsibility in ensuring that there is a proper check on arms deliveries, particularly in view of the gigantic build-up from Russia?

The Prime Minister

Yes. But as my right hon. Friend has made clear repeatedly, any control of arms in the Middle East must be multilateral and effective. We imposed a temporary embargo while the fighting was on and immediately afterwards in the hope that it would be followed by other countries, but it was not. That is why my right hon. Friend is working for a comprehensive arms control agreement affecting the supply of arms to the Arabs and to Israel.

Sir J. Langford-Holt

Is it not clear that we are drifting back into circumstances and conditions which were a direct cause of two wars? Cannot the right hon. Gentleman give us any more hope of stronger and more strenuous action being taken to get a settlement in this area?

The Prime Minister

I share what I know to be the hon. Gentleman's keen desire to get a lasting settlement of the kind indicated by my right hon. Friend and myself in the House and outside and by other right hon. Members. One of the necessary conditions of a truly lasting peace, apart from all the others, is an effective system of arms control. But I see no hope immediately of getting a system of arms control ahead of a settlement of the other deeper and even more bitter issues.