HC Deb 26 October 1953 vol 518 cc2406-7
2. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the negotiations between Her Majesty's Government and the Egyptian Government on the subject of the Suez Canal base.

3. Sir T. Moore

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement indicating the progress so far made in his negotiations with the Egyptian Government over the Suez Canal dispute.

Mr. Eden

I regret that I am still not in a position to make this statement. I can, however, assure the House that I shall do so at the earliest opportunity.

Mr. Wyatt

Cannot the Foreign Secretary tell us at least as much as he told the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Tory Party, and can he take heart and stand up to those 19th Century members of all ages in his party who are trying to prevent the reaching of a reasonable agreement with the Egyptians?

Mr. Eden

I am not sure that I understand whom the hon. Member is trying to describe. It would not, of course, be anybody of my acquaintance.

Sir T. Moore

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that he will have general support and confidence in his efforts to bring this dispute to a peaceable end, and also, of course, in maintaining our international and treaty rights in regard to the Canal?

Mr. Shinwell

While I fully recognise the need for a satisfactory conclusion to these negotiations, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman to recognise that it would be most undesirable if the result was that these negotiations, satisfactory though they may be to both parties, were used as a jumping-off ground to enable Egypt to attack any of her neighbours?

Mr. Eden

What we are dealing with is a revision of the treaty which we signed with Egypt. If the right hon. Gentleman has any special point he wants to raise about our side of the question, I shall be glad if he will put it down.

Mr. Amery

Can my right hon. Friend give the assurance that if any agreement appears to be in sight, the terms will be presented to the House for a debate before any decision is taken?

Mr. Eden

My hon. Friend can be assured that the ordinary constitutional procedure will, in any event, be followed.