11. Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONEasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why an ultimatum has been presented to the Imam to vacate the territories of the Aden hinterland: and whether any bombing has taken place at Taiz?
§ 12. Mr. RAMSDENasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make a statement regarding recent events in the Yemen?
§ 14. Rear-Admiral BEAMISHasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps are being taken to bring to an end the strained relations and hostilities existing between His Majesty's Government and the Imam of Yemen; what are the subjects under dispute: and whether the Imam has made any proposals that are intended to settle the situation?
§ Mr. AMERYOn the 12th March last, I made a full statement in the House on the relations between His Majesty's Government and the Imam of the Yemen, and described the action which it had been found necessary to take. That action resulted in the return of the Protectorate Sheikhs who had been kidnapped and in a request by the Imam for a truce of thirty days for general negotiations. The request was granted, and the truce took effect from the 25th March. The Acting Resident at Aden 951 proceeded to Taiz in Yemen territory to open negotiations, but found that the Imam's representative there was empowered to carry on informal discussion only and not to negotiate a treaty. Subsequently, the Imam was informed that His Majesty's Government were prepared to conclude immediately a brief treaty confined to (1) recognition by His Majesty's Government of the Imam's independence in the Yemen; (2) recognition by the Imam of the frontier of the Aden Protectorate with certain modifications in his favour; and (3) a promise to the Imam of such assistance as His Majesty's Government could render him within the limit of their international obligations.
The truce was extended to the 1st June to give the Imam time to consider this proposal. On his asking for a further extension to the 17th July, the Imam was informed that this extension would be given provided that, as an earnest of good faith, he evacuated the town of Dhala by the 20th June. This he failed to do. Consequently, demonstration flights were made and warnings dropped giving four days' notice, and on the 25th June air action was recommenced.
Air action has been taken in all on 14 several days, including one on which an attack was delivered on Taiz. The Royal Air Force suffered no casualties during such action.
I should like to repeat that His Majesty's Government are anxious, as they always have been, to come to a settlement with the Imam on honourable terms which will satisfy the just claims of both parties and place their future relations on a friendly and neighbourly basis. But no settlement could be acceptable to His Majesty's Government which did not take account of their obligations towards the tribes on their own side of the frontier.
Mr. MALONEDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that these ultimatums and bombings are really the best way of bringing about a settlement?
§ Miss WILKINSONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman why he goes round 952 killing perfectly innocent natives when he cannot get on with the Imam of Yemen? Why not leave the natives alone?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWhat steps are taken to see that non-combatants and women are not bombed?