HC Deb 23 June 1969 vol 785 cc997-8
36. Mr. Moonman

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of the growing competition between China and Russia in providing equipment and arms to Syria and Egypt, respectively, if he will propose a further international initiative to restrict arms supplies to the Middle East.

Mr. M. Stewart

As I made clear to the House on 17th June, we would certainly like to see an all-round stoppage, or at least a limitation on arms supplies to the Middle East.

But unless there is a clear indication of general support for such a move, we would not think it practical to take a unilateral initiative at this stage. This is something which would be more likely to arise from a general agreement about the Middle East on which we must concentrate our endeavours.—[Vol. 784; c. 306–14.]

Mr. Moonman

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that in view of our own ambiguous policy towards Israel on shipment of tanks, we have a special responsibility to ensure that we search out ways to prevent the Russians continuing to put a great amount of equipment into the area—and, indeed, the Chinese in the future?

Mr. Stewart

Yes, Sir. My hon. Friend may remember that immediately after the war in 1967 we endeavoured to set an example of unilateral abstention from supplying, but I must make it clear that if the result were to put one country in the Middle East at serious disadvantage, this would be a very dangerous policy.