The British Government will deliver within a few days its final reply to Israel’s request for a long list of arms and equipment submitted six months ago, it was learned here today. Similar replies will be sent to other Middle-Eastern countries which have been seeking to purchase British equipment.
The governments will be informed that no heavy equipment–tanks, engines, trucks, and large calibre guns–will be available for sale to Middle East countries. Some very restricted exceptions will be made to countries like Egypt, Jordan and Iraq, with whom Britain has special treaties. They will be permitted to buy strictly limited replacements, but the bulk of British production of all these items is reserved for the British forces and for the Atlantic allies.
Small arms of certain types, light equipment and mortars will be available for Israel, it was indicated. However, not the latest type of mortars, which are said to be of revolutionary design.
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