The British Government’s decision to supply the Arab states with jet planes is consistent with the tripartite declaration enunciated May 25, 1950, Lord Reading, Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, told the House of Lords today.
Lord Reading insisted that the British policy of delivering arms to the Middle East states at this time was in line with the British-French-American declaration guaranteeing the borders of Israel and the Arab states against aggression. The declaration, he said, recognized the need of the Arab states and Israel to maintain a certain level of armed forces for internal security, for legitimate self-defense and to enable them to play their part in the defense of the entire Middle East area.
Lord Reading declared that the aircraft in question were jet fighters, which he called essentially defensive weapons. He added that the number of planes supplied the Middle East states or promised for early delivery was “small. ” In reply to a second query from Lord Strabolgi who set off the debate by questioning the government’s policy, the government spokesman admitted that Egypt was one of the states which was receiving British jets.
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