The British Government today lifted its three-year-old embargo on the shipment of arms to Egypt. The Israel Government was informed of the British Government’s decision, the Foreign Office said. The State Department in Washington was also informed of the decision.
With the lifting of the embargo, applications for war materiel will again be considered in routine fashion and under the terms of the tripartite declaration of 1950 in which the United States, Britain and France pledged themselves to maintain the status quo in relation to Middle East borders. Although the Foreign Office said that Egypt could now purchase “all arms” from Britain, it could not say whether orders placed before the embargo of October, 1951, was imposed would now be fulfilled. It is believed here that Egypt will now place orders with British armament manufacturers for jet planes. tanks and other weapons.
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