§ 5. Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will propose to the Security Council that arms supplies should be withheld from any Middle Eastern State obstructing a settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict on the lines of the unanimous Security Council resolution of November, 1967.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Goronwy Roberts)I do not consider that a separate initiative of the sort proposed would help the efforts of the four Powers who are now discussing the Middle East situation in New York; though, as my right hon. Friend indicated in his reply to the right hon. Member for Devon. North (Mr. Thorpe) on 17th February, the subject may be raised during the talks.—[Vol. 778, c. 8–9.]
§ Mr. MayhewWould my right hon. Friend not agree that if the permanent members reach agreement on proposals for a settlement and they are endorsed by the Security Council, if then one of the countries of the Middle East refuses to accept the proposals, is it not quite unacceptable that it should go on being armed by one of the permanent members?
§ Mr. RobertsWe should await the outcome of the four-Power talks which are making quite good progress and not anticipate difficulties of this sort, especially anticipatory intentions which might put difficulty in the way of the four-Power talks. I have said that it is possible, indeed quite likely, that the four Powers may consider the point raised by my hon. Friend.