§ Dame Joan Vickersasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of Recommendation 194 on international trade in armaments, adopted by the Assembly of Western European Union on 10th December, 1969, and of the continued warfare in the Middle East and in several under-developed countries, Her Majesty's Government will seek, at international level and in particular at the United Nations, to ensure that all trade in armaments is strictly controlled and that an arbitration tribunal is established capable of providing a peaceful settlement of international conflicts.
§ Mr. LuardHer Majesty's Government would welcome international agreement on effective measures to control the arms trade. We have for some time been study-248W ing the problems involved and the best way to make progress. In our view the primary requirement for the implementation of an effective international agreement is the active support of all major supplying countries. The attitude of recipient countries would also be a key factor. Unfortunately, on the basis of past experience, an effective agreement may be difficult to reach.
As regards an arbitration tribunal capable of providing for the peaceful settlement of international conflicts, there already exists, at The Hague, the International Court of Justice, a principal organ of the United Nations.