§ 24. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy towards further arms sales to the Middle East; and if he will prohibit the sale of British arms to nations involved in international conflict or likely to become so.
§ Mr. JuddWe are willing, in the light of our judgment of the long-term policies of the State in question, to consider re-requests from Middle East countries for items the supply of which, in our view, would not endanger the achievement of a just and lasting solution to the dispute between the Arabs and Israel.
769WSimilarly, the criteria for the sale of arms elsewhere are constantly being updated in the light of changing circumstances. We would not authorise arms sales where they would, in our view, contribute to the likelihood of conflict between other countries. However, to refuse to meet the requirements of friendly countries, subject to the usual criteria, would be to deny them the right to self-defence which we allow ourselves.