Arms deal worries 40 Conservatives

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32540, 25 February 1971, Page 11

Arms deal worries 40 Conservatives

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, February 24. Members of Parliament from the ruling Conservative Party will see the Foreign Secretary (Sir Alec Douglas-Home) today to try to discover how far he intends to go on the supply of arms to South Africa.

The deputation repre- 1 sents about 40 Tory members who are disturbed by the Government’s decision to sell Wasp helicopters to the South African Navy.

They will seek an assurance that the Government

will go no further than the obligation under the 1955 Simonstown Agreement to supply the Wasp helicopters. After the meeting with . Sir Alec Douglas-Home they will decide how to act when the issue comes to a vote.

Meanwhile, Commonwealth sources in London said that Britain’s decision to sell the helicopters might have jeopardised the future of a Commonwealth study group on the defence of the Cape Sea routes and the Indian Ocean. When it was established by the Commonwealth confer-

ence in Singapore last month, it was seen as a move to defuse the combustible armsfor - South Africa controversy. Many Commonwealth [ leaders hoped that Britain , would defer any action on arms supplies until after its report.

Although the Prime Minister (Mr Edward Heath) made it clear that the creation of the group in no way tied Britain’s hands, the more militant Commonwealth leaders will undoubtedly see the announcement as a snub. Mr Amock Phiri, the High Commissioner for Zambia—one of the most vehement opponents of arms sales —yesterday discussed Britain’s decision with Mr Heath. There was no comment on the meeting.

The United Nations Association of the United Kingdom and the London-based Action Committee against Racialism added their voices

yesterday to condemnations of the Government’s decision.