HC Deb 18 December 1947 vol 445 c420W
179. Mr. Hoy

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken to ensure that arms and supplies furnished to the Arab States under current treaty arrangements will not find their way to Palestine.

Mr. Mayhew

His Majesty's Government have treaty obligations with various Middle East States to supply them with war material needed for internal security and defence tasks. In view of the possibilities of trouble in the Middle East it was decided recently that all orders for war material from Middle East countries would be very carefully scrutinised. In deciding whether such orders are to be accepted, His Majesty's Government will naturally take into account the possibility of war material concerned being used in Palestine. Import of arms into Palestine itself will continue to be controlled by the Palestine Government while the mandate continues. Thereafter it will be the responsibility of the United Nations Commission.