HC Deb 06 July 1955 vol 543 cc1134-6
Mr. Shinwell

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make about the shelling of the s.s. "Anshun" by the Egyptians.

Mr. Nutting

Yes, Sir. At about 5.30 a.m. local time on 3rd July, the British ship s.s. "Anshun" was fired upon and hit as it was passing through the Enterprise Channel en route for Aqaba. There were no casualties. The ship, which was on the pilgrim run between Jedda and Aqaba was returning empty northward to Aqaba at the time.

The master has reported that the shot, which struck his ship above the waterline, was fired by an Egyptian battery. He was signalled to stop when he was already abeam of Tiran Island. Because of a head wind and ebb tide and because the ship was light he was unable to make an immediate stop without jeopardising his ship. After the firing of a first shot the master stopped his engines. Two minutes later a further shot was fired and the ship received a hit.

The master was then interrogated by an Egyptian frigate and asked what the ship and cargo were and whether he had any Egyptian authority to enter through the Channel. He was told to await permission from Cairo. About 50 minutes later permission to proceed was granted.

Her Majesty's chargé d'affaires in Cairo has been instructed to lodge a vigorous protest with the Egyptian Government for this unwarranted attack and to reserve the right of Her Majesty's Government to claim compensation for the damage done.

Mr. Shinwell

Are not this and similar acts by the Egyptian authorities quite illegal and a violation of the Resolution passed by the United Nations? In view of the activities of the Egyptian Government, may I ask the Minister whether it is still considered wise to export arms to that country? Ought we not to take positive action to prevent Egypt from undertaking escapades of this kind?

Mr. Nutting

As the right hon. Gentleman knows, Her Majesty's Government, like their predecessors, have never recognised the legality of the Egyptian blockade either of the Canal or other waters, such as the Gulf of Aqaba, leading to Israeli ports. As to the policy of arms supplies to Egypt, we endeavour to maintain—so far as lies within our power and having regard to deliveries from other countries—a balance of arms supplies to Middle Eastern States. I think that that balance has been fairly kept in the past.

Mr. Shinwell

Is it not anomalous that we should export arms to a country engaged in illegal activities which has been condemned by the Foreign Secretary, by the Government and by this House over and over again—and by the United Nations? Ought we not to take action to prevent Egypt from obtaining arms until that country gains some wisdom in these matters?

Mr. Nutting

The export of arms to Egypt is for Egypt's defence—[Laughter.] Yes, indeed; it is strictly for its own defence and strictly within the terms of the Tripartite Declaration, to which the right hon. Gentleman's Government was a signatory. In our view, the export of arms to Egypt does not in any way assist or encourage that country in illegalities of this character.

Mr. Patrick Maitland

Is it not the case that the Egyptians are now trying to pretend that they never shot at the ship at all?

Mr. Nutting

The Egyptian authorities have said that they did not hit the ship, and that they fired a warning shot across her bow. If that be true, the Egyptians must either be poor marksmen or poor observers, or both.

Mr. P. Williams

In a Press report of this incident there is a statement that there were pilgrims aboard this vessel returning to Aqaba. Is there any truth in this, and if so, were there any casualties?

Mr. Nutting

No, my hon. Friend will have heard there were no casualties. The ship was returning north to Aqaba and at the time there were no pilgrims on board.