HC Deb 19 December 1956 vol 562 cc1254-5
8. Dr. Stross

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the United Nations plan for the resettlement of Palestinian Arabs in the Suez area; and what action he intends to take to further this and other plans on their behalf.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

The hon. Member is presumably referring to the scheme for the settlement of 60,000 refugees from Gaza in Western Sinai. I understand that the Egyptian Government have informed the United Nations Relief and Works Agency that they are unable to supply the necessary water until the Aswan High Dam is built, and the scheme is therefore in abeyance.

The only other major scheme under consideration is that for settling 100,000 refugees in the Jordan Valley. This is not practicable until the governments concerned come to an agreement for co-ordinated use of the waters of the Jordan.

Her Majesty's Government will continue to give all possible support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in its search for practicable resettlement schemes.

Dr. Stross

Can the Joint Under-Secretary state whether the excuse given that until the Aswan Dam has been created water would not be available is correct?

Mr. Dodds-Parker

I think it probably is. As hon. Members on both sides of the House know, the extension of irrigation works in Egypt is such that they do require over a period ahead a considerable amount of water, but I cannot give a detailed answer on any particular point.

Mr. S. Silverman

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that this question, like so many other relevant questions about this subject, is completely bedevilled by the general political situation which lies behind it, and that we shall never get any satisfactory settlement of this tragic problem except as part of a general political settlement in the area? Does the hon. Gentleman not realise that it is completely impossible to produce any feeling of security between Arabs on the one side and Israelis on the other while all their countries are being periodically played off one against the other by one or other of the great Powers for their own purposes? If that is so, is not it necessary that all the interested parties, without exception, should be got together to make an endeavour to work out an agreed solution.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

While accepting the hon. Member's analysis, I must reject the accusation against Her Majesty's Government either as it affects my right hon. Friends on this Bench or right hon. Gentlemen opposite. I think that we have all done our best since the unhappy days of 1947–48 to reach a settlement.

Mr. Bevan

May I ask the hon. Gentleman to realise that so far as we on these benches are concerned this is not a matter for scoring over one side of the House or the other? There is anxiety in all parts of the House. May I ask the hon. Gentleman to consider that it seems to us that what is required is a general approach to the question so that the various pieces fall into place. The Yarmuk-Jordan Scheme, the Johnson Scheme, the Lowdermilk Scheme and all the other schemes cannot, so far as we can see, be approached intelligently by the Middle East unless they form part of a general design. We should like to know what general design the Government have in mind to advance.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

The Foreign Secretary has just shown how these various problems do exist and affect the problem of a settlement. Sometimes it looks as if a package agreement might be reached and then it falls to bits. Then there may be a suggestion that one or other of the schemes might be proceeded with individually. The right hon. Gentleman knows as well as I do that these various approaches have been made, and Her Majesty's present Ministers will do their utmost to reach a settlement by one way or the other.