§ Mr. Chichester-Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Czechoslovakia in relation to arms originating in that country and destined for use in the United Kingdom.
§ Sir Alec Douglas-HomeAs I stated in the House on 18th October, we have been in touch with the Czechoslovak Government about the consignment of arms from Czechoslovakia intercepted at Schipol airport by the Netherlands authorities on 16th October. We informed the Czechoslovak Government that we had reason to believe the arms were intended for the Irish Republican Army. The Czechoslovak Government replied that, according to their information, this consignment was definitely not intended for Northern Ireland but for a completely different part of the world. They have assured us that it is not their policy to get involved in the affairs of Northern Ireland, and that they have no intention of supplying arms. Her Majesty's Government have noted these assurances and requested the co-operation of the Czechoslovak authorities in preventing the Irish Republican Army from purchasing Czechoslovak arms and ammunition.—[Vol. 823, c. 378.]