§ 10. Mr. Peytonasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the negotiations undertaken by his Department for the sale of warships to the Argentine.
§ Mr. John MorrisNo, Sir. We do not as a rule reveal any details of negotiations in progress.
§ Mr. PeytonHowever desirable it may be to sell such ships to the Argentine, will the Minister agree that it would be a very shoddy thing to incur such a sale as part of a barter arrangement involving the destiny of the Falkland Islands?
§ Mr. MorrisThe hon. Gentleman is a man of great initiative and great courage. He should not bring his own skeletons and put them in our cupboard. At no time have we linked any negotiations on warships with either the Falkland Islands or the issue of meat.