§ 61. Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what occurred when a British Avro Tudor plane was fired on by Egyptian anti-aircraft guns in the Gaza area recently; and what steps 41 he has taken with the Egyptian Government or with the United Nations in this matter.
§ Mr. MayhewThe only communication to His Majesty's Government on this incident was made orally on 23rd October by a director of the company which owns the aircraft. No reports have been made to any of His Majesty's representatives either by the representatives of the company or by any member of the crew of the aircraft. Further inquiries are being made from the Egyptian Government.
§ Mr. JannerDid the Minister ascertain from Air Vice-Marshal Bennett what the position was? Has he received information from that source to the effect that there were displaced persons being carried in that plane, which was only being used, therefore, for humanitarian purposes, and will he see that an incident of this kind is not repeated?
§ Mr. MayhewWe received from Air Vice-Marshal Bennett a telephone call and a promise of a report, which has not arrived. We are making further inquiries from the Egyptian Government.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydWhile the Minister may be anxious to get every satisfaction from the Egyptian Government, is it not a fact that this outrage did occur? Does he expect to get the same satisfaction that he got from the Jewish authorities?
§ Mr. MayhewI do not think that we should talk about satisfaction until we know what happened.