HC Deb 03 February 1954 vol 523 cc365-7
58. Mr. P. Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to Egypt to ensure that all existing facilities are available for ships passing through the Suez Canal.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

The Egyptian Government have repeatedly been informed that Her Majesty's Government do not accept the blacklisting of ships, on the grounds that it is contrary to international maritime practice. The refusal of facilities however does not necessarily prevent the passage of black listed ships through the Suez Canal.

Mr. Williams

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that the withdrawal of facilities in the Canal itself is placing an unnecessary burden on shipping, both British and international?

Mr. Lloyd

I quite agree it is highly inconvenient.

Mr. Willey

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that the Government are in an impossible position over Egypt when they are being threatened by revolt from a large number of their back benchers while the negotiations are proceeding?

Mr. Lloyd

The point is that we are determined to continue with our efforts to achieve agreement with Egypt, but at the present time the difficulties in attaining any such result really come in large measure from the conduct of the Egyptian Government.

Mr. H. Morrison

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman recall that the Secretary of State, when in Opposition, publicly advocated that British shipping seeking to go through the Canal should be accompanied by British naval craft? Would he tell us what has become of that proposal?

Mr. Lloyd

Of course the right hon. Gentleman will remember that he had a measure of responsibility for dealing with the suggestion and that the course he took was to refer the matter to the United Nations Security Council. At the present time there is a security Council Resolution dealing with the matter and in our view it is now a matter for international action.

Mr. Morrison

Is it not the case that the policy advocated by the Secretary of State when in Opposition was promptly abandoned by the present Administration?

Mr. Lloyd

The right hon. Gentleman could not have quite followed my reply. The point is that he and the Government of which he was a Member took the matter out of the national into the international field and now it is governed by the Security Council. As hon. Members may have observed from reports in the newspapers, it may very well be that the matter will come before the Security Council again in the near future.

Captain Waterhouse

Is it not a fact that in this matter—as in most others—our troubles in Egypt arise from the actions and inaction of the party opposite?

Mr. Lloyd

Certainly I agree with my right hon. Friend that the actions and past decisions of this Government have to a considerable extent been affected by the course of conduct of theprevious Government. The right hon. Gentleman knows quite well some of the difficulties in this matter.

Mr. Morrison

Is it not becoming the customary, traditional and monotonous defence of this Government, when attacked from either side of the House, that all they are doing is following the example of the Labour Government? Is it not time the Government were rather more ready to stand on their own feet?

Mr. Lloyd

I am not quite certain if that was meant to be an expression of abuse of this Government.

Several Hon

. Membersrose—

Mr. Speaker

Order. It is time we proceeded with the business.