§ 1. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the British arms shipments to Pakistan.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Sir Alec Douglas-Home)None, Sir. I would refer the hon. Member to my answers to the hon. Member for Brentford and Chiswick (Mr. Barnes) on 26th April.—[Vol. 816, c. 29.]
§ Mrs. ShortI thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply but does he not agree that there is certain action which he would take, which should have have been taken long ago; namely, to bring about a political solution to this tragic conflict? Does he not think that he should take the initiative to bring together the major parties concerned with arms shipments to Pakistan, in order to see that no more shipments take place, as a first step towards reaching such a political agreement?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeIt must be for the other countries concerned to decide their own arms policy.
§ Mrs. ShortThen it goes on for ever.
§ Mrs. ShoreDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that on a matter of this kind it might be useful to consult one of our principal allies, the United States, to see whether we cannot together agree on a policy of withholding arms from Pakistan?
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeNo, Sir.