§ 18. Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence when he next intends to attend a meeting of COCOM.
§ Dr. GilbertThe United Kingdom is represented at official level at these discussions.
§ Mr. AdleyDoes the right hon. Gentleman accept the importance of COCOM responding to significant changes in world events, especially the relationship between the Soviet Union and China? Does he accept in that connection the importance of Mao Tse-Tung's remark "My enemy's enemy is my friend"? Will he give an asurance that the Government are prepared to consider the sale of certain arms to Governments, such as the Government of China, provided that they are not arms that can in any way be used against NATO Powers?
§ Dr. GilbertI take note of what the hon. Gentleman says. As far as I know, we have had no requests for sales of arms to China. If any such requests came, they would be considered in the normal way.