§ 31. Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in how many cases, other than that relating to the use of the Gulf of Aqaba, Her Majesty's Government have made bilateral arrangements with foreign States for the de facto implementation of de jure international obligations; and if he will give particulars of such cases.
§ Mr. TurtonThe hon. Member is mistaken in his hypothesis as we have made no such arrangement.
§ Mr. JannerWill the right hon. Gentleman explain whether it is not a fact that he is now purporting to implement a de jure decision or de jure position by making arrangements for its de facto implementation in Aqaba? If he is doing that, does he not realise that this destroys the whole situation as far as we are concerned, as it implies that no international obligation rests on anybody?
§ Mr. TurtonThe hon. Gentleman has expressed the position wrongly. As my right hon. Friend said earlier, what we 375 have done in this matter is merely continuing an arrangement that was started in July, 1951, by the Labour Government.
§ Mr. JannerIs that not really a progressive appeasement of wrongdoers? Is it not a shocking thing that we should in this one instance, apparently the only instance, be adopting a policy in favour of these wrongdoers instead of stopping the wrongdoing?
§ Mr. TurtonIf we are doing wrong, then we are following the lead given by the right hon. Gentlemen on the Front Bench opposite. In my view, and in Her Majesty's Government's judgment, we are doing right in order to stop incidents to shipping in that part of the world.