5 FEBRUARY 1954, Page 4

Rifles from Belgium

It is impossible to quarrel with the Government's original decision to choose the Belgian FN, firing a .300 cartridge, rather than the first British EM2, an admirable—possibly, indeed, a superior—weapon but using .280 ammunition. Even with the modification of the EM2 to fire a .300 cartridge the case fors quarrelling with the Government's decision to go ahead with the Belgian rifle is not a strong one. This is certainly not a question which can be settled by an argument between marks- men MPs in the House of Commons. It is too technical. And in any case the effect of still further detailed enquiry (added to that which has taken place already) for the sake of an argument about very fine points of technical detail would be produce still further delay, whereas the most important thing now is to get the rifles into the hands of the troops quickly.