§ THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question 775 which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are prepared to sell Chieftain tanks to Libya.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN)My Lords, this is one of the matters we are discussing with the Libyans in our current negotiations with them, and is therefore one on which we cannot comment. The supply of Chieftains to any country in the Middle East presents obvious difficulties in present circumstances.
§ THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERYMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for that reply. May I ask him whether he is aware that a certain amount of anxiety is felt in probably a good many quarters over this matter, involving as it does not only the question of trade and the difficulties to which he referred in dealing with countries in that part of the world, but also our own technological security and the interests of our NATO allies in particular, and conceivably also the hazards of tipping the scales one way or the other in the war between Egypt and Israel?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANYes, my Lords. Her Majesty's Government are well aware of all these considerations. I can assure the noble Earl that those are just the type of considerations that are being taken into account during the negotiations.
LORD JANNERMy Lords, would the noble Marquess keep in mind the fact that to-day Libya has entered into an agreement with Syria, Egypt and the Sudan and has definitely declared that she is prepared to use any tanks supplied to her in an attack on Israel? Would he keep that aspect in mind when he comes to a decision on this matter?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANYes, my Lords. Certainly we will bear in mind any statements that have been made in that context.
§ LORD BROCKWAYMy Lords, may I ask the noble Marquess whether in the discussion between the Great Powers 776 there has been any consideration of the prohibition of arms to both sides in the Middle East conflict?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I think that that question is really outside the Question on the Order Paper. But I note what the noble Lord has said.
§ LORD SHINWELLMy Lords, may we have an assurance from the Government that if Chieftain tanks are provided for the Libyan Government which might, in the natural course of events, be transferred to Egypt or to one of the other Arab countries, the State of Israel will also be provided with equipment to defend herself and to promote her security, while at the same time entering into friendly relations with the State of Libya?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, as I said before, I take the noble Lord's point. These considerations are uppermost in our minds during the negotiations.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, are Her Majesty's Government having consultations with the French Government? There is a question of the possible cancellation of the supply of Mirages to Libya. Would my noble friend not agree that possibly a joint agreement regarding the supply of Chieftain tanks and of Mirage aircraft might be desirable?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I am afraid that without notice I cannot answer my noble friend's question on that point.