§ 2.40 p.m.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy 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 whether it has been agreed to supply naval aircraft and aeroplanes to the Government of Greece.]
Tim MINISTER of STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD CHALFONT)My Lords, no request for an export licence for such items has been received, but any such request would be considered in the light of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation requirements.
LORD BROCK WAYMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware of the report in Governmental papers in Greece that there has been agreement to supply naval aircraft and aeroplanes? Further, when they are considering the NATO role of Greece, will Her Majesty's Government remember that even the Liberal and Conservative opponents of the present regime say that it was NATO arms that enabled the military coup to be carried out and NATO arms that are now maintaining it?
§ LORD CHALFONTMy Lords, of course Her Majesty's Government will take account of reports of that kind and will give them the weight which they deserve. In answer to the first part of 876 my noble friend's supplementary question, I am afraid that I cannot be responsible for what appears in any newspaper, certainly not for what appears in newspapers in Greece. I can only repeat that no request for an export licence has been received and therefore, of course, no agreement could have been made.