§ 9. Major Beamishasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the nature of the disagreement between certain United Kingdom representives on the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees and other members of this body; and if he will give an assurance that this disagreement will not prejudice the taking of early and effective action to resettle Arab refugees.
§ Mr. NuttingThere is no disagreement between United Kingdom representatives on the Advisory Commission of the 8 United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees and the Director of the Agency. My hon. and gallant Friend is perhaps referring to the recent removal from his post of the Representative of the Agency in Jordan, who was British. The officer in question was an employee of the United Nations for whose appointments Her Majesty's Government are not, of course, responsible.
As regards the second part of the Question, I see no reason why the departure of this officer should have any untoward effect on the Agency's plans for the resettlement of the refugees, which have the full support of Her Majesty's Government.
§ Major BeamishWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that reassuring statement, which is very different from the garbled account which appeared in the Press, may I ask him whether he hopes to be in a position next Autumn, at any rate, to give a full progress report on the resettlement of Arab refugees, upon which apparently the whole peace and stability of the Middle East now depends?
§ Mr. NuttingI entirely agree with the last part of my hon. and gallant Friend's supplementary question. As regards making a progress report on this matter, I shall certainly do what I can, although naturally I would prefer not to be tied to a time.