HL Deb 21 November 1957 vol 206 c447

3.5 p.m.

LORD WINDLESHAM

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the possible danger of French withdrawal from N.A.T.O., they have anything to add to their statement on November 18 with regard to deliveries of arms to Tunisia.]

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF GOSFORD)

My Lords, I would ask the noble Lord if he would be good enough to await the statement to be made later this afternoon by the noble Earl the Leader of the House.

LORD WINDLESHAM

I am very relieved, as I am sure your Lordships will be, to hear that a statement is to be made this afternoon on this most urgent and important matter, but in supplementation of the Question I have put to the noble Earl I should like to ask him whether the Government is aware that this matter is not one of a few thousand rifles but may well be a deliberate attempt on the part of the Tunisian Government to impair French prestige, already at a somewhat low ebb for one reason or another, and thus to undermine the solidarity of N.A.T.O.

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government are no doubt aware of almost every possibility in this particular case.

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