BRITISH TANKS FOR EGYPT

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27443, 1 September 1954, Page 11

BRITISH TANKS FOR EGYPT

High Priority For Shipments

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, August 31. Egyptian armed forces were to receive British Centurion tanks and jet aircraft after the British Government’s decision yesterday to lift the arms embargo on Egypt, the diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Mail” said today. , A consignment of Centurions about to go to Cairo in the autumn of 1951 was held up because of the terrorist campaign against British troops in the Canal Zone.

This order would now be fulfilled with as high a priority as possible, the “Daily Mail” said. The first consignment was expected to total 16 tanks and spare parts. Payment would be in sterling.

Lifting of Embargo Britain yesterday lifted the embargo on the sale of arms to Egypt, a Foreign Office spokesman announced. The embargo was imposed in October, 1951, after the Egyptian Government had abrogated the AngloEgyptian treaty. The Foreign Office spokesman said that the lifting of the embargo was effective immediately. It meant that applications from Egypt to .buy arms would be considered in the usual way in the light of the principles of the tripartite declaration of May, 1950, on the /security of the Middle East area.

Under this declaration, Britain, the United States, and France are absolutely opposed to aggression in that part of the world.

Answering questions, the spokesman said the arms would be sold on the assurance, as called for by the tripartite declaration, that they would not be used for “aggressive purposes.” In another reply he said the Israel Government had been informed of the decision.