§ 13 Mr. Harold Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he will refer the decision of Egypt to nationalise the Suez Canal to the Permanent Court of International Justice at The Hague;
(2) if he will seek the co-operation of the Soviet Government in dealing with the problem of the recent action of Egypt on the Suez Canal;
(3) if he will give the exact terms which the Egyptian Government have communicated to him regarding compensation for Suez Canal shares.
§ 17 and 22. Mr. Warbeyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what were the specific changes in Egyptian political and economic policy which took place between February and July of this year and which led the Government to withdraw its offer of financial help for the Aswan Dam project;
(2) what offer of compensation has been received from the Egyptian Government for the British Government's shares in the Suez Canal Company.
§ 25. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the latest action of the Egyptian Government in relation to the Suez Canal, whether he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government are prepared to co-operate with the other permanent members of the Security Council represented at the Summit Conference in Geneva last July, in order to bring about a settlement through the United Nations of all outstanding issues in the Middle East.
§ 26. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further information he has received from Egypt on the Suez Canal dispute.
§ 28. Mr. Donnellyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what preparations Her Majesty's Government made in June of this year against the seizure of the Suez Canal, in view of the fact that it was officially stated by Mr. Burhansaid, the Egyptian director of the Canal Company, on 4th June, that the Egyptian Government already had in being plans to take over the canal.
§ Lord John HopeMy right hon. and learned Friend is engaged this afternoon in conversations with the United States Secretary o f State and the French 1368 Foreign Minister. There is also, as the House knows, to be a debate on the Suez Canal tomorrow. I would therefore ask those hon. Members who have put down these Questions not to press me for answers today.
§ Mr. DaviesWhile thanking the hon. Gentleman for his Answer and realising that this House of Commons has a grave responsibility at this juncture in trying to find a peaceful solution, may I ask the Minister if he is aware that there will be millions of people of different political points of view in this country who deprecate the irresponsible leading article, for instance, in the Daily Express today which is—
§ Mr. SpeakerThe Minister is not responsible for the leader in the Daily Express.
§ Mr. DaviesI am fully aware of that fact, Mr. Speaker, and I merely want to ask the Minister if he will assure the House that the Government will try every international avenue to solve this problem in discussion and legally, because it is far better for a few statesmen to get ulcers than for young men to get shot?
§ Mr. SpeakerThere is to be a debate tomorrow, and I think that the House should go on with the other Questions.
§ Mr. HughesOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it not a rule of this House that Members are allowed to ask supplementary questions?
§ Mr. SpeakerIt is not a rule. I generally try to permit it if I can. I hope that the House will agree with me that, in view of what the Minister has said, which is practically nothing, we should go on with Questions and wait until tomorrow to discuss this matter.
§ Mr. J. HyndFurther to the point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it not generally the practice that hon. Members are entitled to ask Questions when a debate is anticipated in order to elicit information which may be of use to them during the debate?
§ Mr. SpeakerYes, if the Minister has any information to give, but I gathered from the reply of the Joint Under-Secretary of State that he had no information to give. That is what I took to be the meaning of his answer.