HC Deb 31 October 1955 vol 545 cc64-6W
57. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on his conversations with Mr. Dulles and his representations to the Egyptian Government on the supply of arms to Middle East countries.

70. Mr. Iremonger

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the supply of arms to Egypt by Soviet Socialist satellite countries in view of the Tripartite Declaration of May, 1950.

88. Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the steps taken by Egypt, in impeding the passage of shipping through the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Akaba, in declaring that she is at war with Israel, a fellow member of the United Nations organisation, and in repeated statements that she is determined to attack Israel again, Her Majesty's Government will refrain from supplying further arms to Egypt.

Mr. Nutting

As the House is aware, the conflict between Israel and the Arab States has created a dangerous state of tension in the Middle East. The decision of Soviet bloc countries to sell large quantities of arms to one party in the dispute has greatly aggravated this situation.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary took immediate steps to consult with his American and French colleagues in New York on learning of this transaction, and later in New York and now again at Geneva has represented Her Majesty's Government's grave concern to the Soviet Foreign Minister. At the same time Her Majesty's Ambassador in Cairo has on two occasions warned the Egyptian Government of the dangers inherent in accepting assistance of this kind from Communist countries. I recently took the opportunity to speak on similar lines in New York to the Egyptian Foreign Minister.

As to Her Majesty's Government's own policy regarding the supply of armaments to the Middle East, we and the other Western Powers have, as the House knows, done our best to limit supplies, to maintain a balance, to prevent an arms race and to create an atmosphere conducive to a settlement. This has been in accordance with our obligations under the Tripartite Declaration of 1950, which it is our intention to uphold.

61. Mr. Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many Sherman tanks have been sold by this country to Israel in the last four years; how many were sold by this country to France in the same period; and what future sales of similar equipment are contemplated.

Mr. Turton

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Sir P. Macdonald) on 26th of October.

63. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on British policy regarding the offer by the Indian Government to supply small arms to Egypt in relation to the arrangements for preserving peace in the near East announced in the Tripartite Declaration of May, 1950; and what are the details of the offer.

Mr. Nutting

I have no details of this offer. But my information does not suggest that the types involved are likely to have a significant effect on the general balance of armaments in the Middle East.

So far as British policy is concerned, I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Cardiff. West (Mr. G. Thomas).