HC Deb 20 July 1955 vol 544 cc356-7
13. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether during the present talks at Geneva he will make an opportunity for bringing about a settlement of the dispute between the Arab States and Israel, in particular the problem of free passage through the Suez Canal.

Mr. Nutting

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend does not consider that the Geneva talks offer a suitable occasion for dealing with these problems.

Mr. Shinwell

Is not this an appropriate subject to be considered, at any rate in embryo, during the four-Power talks? Surely some consideration is being given during the talks to the global situation; and in view of the fact that danger may develop in the Middle East rather than in any other part of the globe, is it not desirable that some reference should be made to it? Are the Government going to sit silent and acquiesce in the present situation, well knowing that diplomatic efforts have failed through the Security Council? Do not we require other steps to be taken?

Mr. Nutting

I would agree that steps are necessary other than those which have been taken in the Security Council, but it does not always help, as the right hon. Gentleman knows well, to publicise these steps to the world. I can assure him that we are taking every step open to us through diplomatic channels, but I am not prepared to publicise those steps for fear that I may prejudice the outcome. So far as the situation in the Middle East is concerned, I agree with the right hon. Gentleman that it is explosive. It blows hot and cold from time to time, but at the moment there has been a slight cooling off, and there are these talks on the frontier between Egypt and Israel, which promise some fair element of success. So far as Geneva is concerned, I think that he would agree that there is a lot on the agenda to occupy them for the next two or three days.

Mr. Shinwell

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I am very glad to hear that the steps, which he is unable to discuss for quite good reasons, are now being taken?

Mr. H. Morrison

While appreciating the point which the right hon. Gentleman made in answer to the supplementary question of my right hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell), is he aware that there is an increasing feeling that the tendency of Government policy is open to the apprehension that it is rather anti-Israel?

Mr. Nutting

I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that there is absolutely no justification whatsoever for that feeling.

Mr. Paget

Supposing the Egyptians either arrest or drive ashore an Israeli ship in the Canal or Akaba waters and the Israeli send forces to rescue it, who is the aggressor and where do we stand in our Treaty obligations?

Mr. Nutting

I should like to have notice of that question.