HC Deb 18 April 1956 vol 551 cc987-8
19. Sir L. Plummer

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what protests he has made to the Government of Iraq against their action in refusing to clear medical supplies exported by a British firm, the name of which has been sent to him, until the firm satisfies the Iraq Government that none of its directors or managers are Jews.

Mr. Nutting

This case, which is a manifestation of the Arab League boycott, has been taken up with the Iraqi Embassy in London. The views of Her Majesty's Government on all aspects of this boycott have repeatedly been made known to the Arab Governments concerned. As the House is aware, we neither accept nor condone it.

Sir L. Plummer

Will the right hon. Gentleman accept the statement that the House welcomes the rather firmer declaration made this afternoon than that which was made by the President of the Board of Trade yesterday? Will he make it utterly clear to the Arab countries that in this country we do not distinguish between Jews and Gentiles, all of whom we regard as honourable and valuable citizens; and also that the Arab countries invite retaliation if they try to set up this kind of commercial ghetto in Great Britain?

Mr. Nutting

I think the views of Her Majesty's Government on this matter have been made very clearly known to the Iraqi Government and other Governments.

Mr. Janner

Would the right hon. Gentleman also point out to those who are being blackmailed, or have been threatened with blackmail, by the Egyptian Government and other Arab States, that a similar threat was made to Germany by the Arab States, at the time when the Reparations Agreement with Israel was being considered—that they would boycott Germany if she agreed to pay reparations for the material damage done by Germany; that the Germans defied that threat, and that nevertheless the Arab States did not proceed with the boycott; and that a similar threat against Holland was ignored with similar results; so that traders will know that they should not succumb to intimidation?

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