Mr. A. M. Nicholson (Mackenzie):

I should like to direct a question to the Secretary of State for External Affairs? Can the minister say whether or not the government has given further consideration to recognizing the Peking government as the de facto government of China?

Hon. L. B. Pearson (Secretary of Stale for External Affairs):

Mr. Speaker, the government is giving, and will continue to give, careful consideration to this important question, as it does to all important diplomatic developments.

Hon. L. B. Pearson (Secretary of State for External Affairs):

Recently there have been two questions asked by hon. members opposite which dealt with the export of military equipment from Canada. The questions concerned at least three departments of the Canadian government, but possibly I may try to answer them now.

Last Wednesday the hon. member for Winnipeg North (Mr. Stewart) asked the following question:

Have any aircraft been shipped from Canada to Egypt recently, or are there any orders on hand for the export of such aircraft?

If by "recently" the hon. member meant, as I assume he meant, during the last few months when there have been disturbing developments in the Middle East, there have been no such orders received for the export of aircraft to Egypt. However, early last summer it was agreed after consideration to issue a permit, in consequence of an order received, for the export from Canada to Egypt of 15 reconditioned Harvard training aircraft of world war II vintage. These are, of course, not combat aircraft. My information is that up to the present only a small part of this order-three aircraft, I believe-has been shipped.

I might add a word on the general policy regarding the export of arms from this country. Such export is controlled under the Export and Import Permits Act, 1954. Applications for permission to export military equipment are considered by the departments of external affairs, trade and commerce and national defence in consultation, before permission is granted or refused.

In considering such applications we recognize, as does the United Nations charter, that all countries have the right of legitimate selfdefence. To exercise this right means in practice, of course, that they are entitled to maintain military establishments for that purpose and to make or buy weapons to equip them. While our sales of military equipment are necessarily on a very modest scale, we are prepared, as are other countries, to export weapons, but only subject to certain considerations which I might outline briefly.

As a general rule the government's policy re export of military equipment varies with the circumstances and with the destination of the shipments. Thus, arms are exported fairly freely to NATO and to commonwealth countries. None may be sold to countries of the Soviet bloc. Shipments to areas of unrest or possible local conflict are either refused or limited and, in the latter case, allowed only after the closest scrutiny to ensure that such sales do not exceed the legitimate defensive needs of such countries or constitute themselves a threat to neighbouring countries.

By and large, the government follows in this matter policies similar to those of the United Kingdom and the United States in respect of most areas and in all appropriate cases we consult with those governments in respect of requests received for military equipment.

Hon. L. B. Pearson (Secretary of State for External Affairs):

Mr. Speaker, in reply to the question addressed yesterday by the hon. member for Esquimalt-Saanich (Mr. Pearkes) to my colleague the Minister of National Defence (Mr. Campney) concerning the ship Star of Assuan, I am informed that the Star of Assuan, which sailed from Halifax during

184 HOUSE OF

Inquiries of the Ministry the week end, carried the following mutual aid material and equipment for Turkey, Greece and Portugal:

36 world war II artillery tractors and spares for Turkey. These tractors are four-wheel drive trucks and do not carry guns.

32 4-7 naval guns with spares and ancillaries for Turkey.

Spares for electronic equipment and for aircraft for Turkey. Greece and Portugal.

These mutual aid items, which were made available by the Canadian government, were allocated by the standing group of NATO and were shipped on a bill of lading arranged in the usual way by the Canadian maritime commission on the Star of Assuan.

The whole matter constituted an entirely normal NATO arrangement for the provision by Canada of mutual aid to our allies Greece, Turkey and Portugal.

The ship also carried the three Harvard aircraft for Egypt to which I referred earlier.

Mr. Alistair Stewart (Winnipeg North):

Mr. Speaker, may I ask a supplementary question. I wonder if the minister could find out and tell us for our information if these non-combat planes were fitted with gun mountings and in any event how far have they been stripped down.

Mr. Pearson:

I shall try to secure that information but I do not know how you could put a gun mounting on a Harvard training aircraft.

Mr. J. G. Diefenbaker (Prince Albert):

Mr. Speaker, in view of the seriousness of the situation in the Middle East, can the minister give a statement to the house and the country on this situation, and would he also indicate his attitude to a request which has become somewhat general that in view of his visit last fall to Egypt and in order to equalize Canada's position in the Middle East he give consideration also to visiting Israel?

Hon. L. B. Pearson (Secretary of State for External Affairs):

I shall be glad to deal with both these matters when an opportunity arises for a debate on external affairs.

Hon. R. O. Campney (Minister of National Defence):

Mr. Speaker, last Thursday the hon. member for Esquimalt-Saanich (Mr. Pearkes) inquired with respect to the provision of helicopter service for search and rescue work on the west coast.

In reply, I may say I find that for some time past one helicopter has normally been attached to the Royal Canadian Air Force search and rescue unit at Sea island near Vancouver. It is there now and is expected to remain there continuously to carry out search and rescue duties as and when required.