§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what contribution Her Majesty's Government now intends to make to the peace and security of the Middle East, with particular reference to the strained relations between the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
§ Mr. George BrownThe Tripartite Declaration of 1950 was about the supply of arms to Israel and the Arab States. The situation was radically altered when several years later the Soviet Union became a major supplier of arms to the area. Today, as in 1950, we are opposed to an arms race in the Middle East and concerned that there should be peace and196W stability there. We deplore the use of threat of force in the area, and subversion, hostile propaganda and terrorism, which have been condemned by many resolutions of the United Nations. As the Prime Minister has confirmed, we regard the United Nations as being primarily responsible for the maintenance of peace in the area. It is our policy to support the United Nations in fulfilling this task and to support every effort made to improve its peacekeeping machinery.