HL Deb 29 April 1968 vol 291 cc867-8

2.35 p.m.

LORD BROCKWAY

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what limitation has been placed on the use of NATO equipment by the Military Government of Greece.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHATFONT)

My Lords, so far as I am aware, no country has placed any limitations on the use of equipment supplied to the Government of Greece under NATO auspices.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether it is not a little cynically incongruous that the forces of NATO, which are supposed to be for the purpose of the defence of freedom and democracy, should be used by a Government—as tanks have been used, in the streets—to overthrow both democracy and freedom?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I shall not follow my noble friend along all the implications of what he has just said. I would simply say that, while it might in theory be possible to impose conditions on the supply of arms under NATO auspices to Greece, it would in practice be very difficult to enforce those conditions.

LORD BROCKWAY

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether his attention has been drawn to the statement by Sir Geoffrey de Freitas, who is now the Chairman of the Council of Europe, in which he has indicated the opposition of European Governments to any recognition of the Government of Greece? And in view of the facts, should we not, if we wish to keep in touch with Europe, at least take the initiative in stopping the supply of arms to the Greek Government?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I think these are two separate questions, and I suggest to my noble friend that the question of recognition is outside the bounds of the original Question which he asked. So far as the supply of arms is concerned, Her Majesty's Government will of course consider in the light of the circumstances at the time any request from the Government of Greece for arms. But we cannot in this speak for any other Government in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

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