HC Deb 22 February 1956 vol 549 cc351-3
5. Mr. Daines

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in his tour of the Middle East, he will visit Israel.

7. Mr. E. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will arrange to visit Israel, either on his way to or on his way back from the forthcoming South-East Asia Treaty Organisation Conference at Karachi.

9. Mr. C. Pannell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he proposes to visit the State of Israel in the near future.

10. Mr. K. Robinson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why he does not intend to visit Israel during his coming tour of the Middle East; and if he will extend his itinerary to include Israel.

11. Mr. Chetwynd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will visit Israel during his forthcoming tour of the Middle East.

12. Mr. G. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will include a visit to Israel in his forthcoming tour of the Middle East countries.

20. Mr. E. L. Mallalieu

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make time to visit Israel during his forthcoming tour.

27. Mr. Dodds

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the importance of a visit by him to Israel, whether he can yet state when he proposes to make such a visit.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

I propose to visit Israel after my visit to Turkey on 13th March.

Mr. Robens

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that we, on this side of the House, view that decision with very great pleasure? We are glad that as a result of the pressure from us he has changed his schedule, which originally did not include Israel.

Mr. Lloyd

That is completely untrue, and I am glad to have been given the opportunity to deny it. This visit was always in my mind, but one does want to ascertain that one's visit would be welcome before one announces it.

Mr. Robens

Is not the Foreign Minister aware that in the schedule given by the Foreign Office Israel was left out?

Mr. Lloyd

For very good reasons; the matter had not then been fixed.

Mr. Daines

May I congratulate the Foreign Secretary on his announcement, which I am sure will be received with relief and great pleasure by the Israelis, who, I am quite sure, are most anxious for him to visit them?

Mr. Lloyd

I am obliged.

Mr. Johnson

Is my right hon, and learned Friend aware that the announcement he has made will give equal pleasure to this side of the House and will be received with widespread satisfaction by the Jewish community?

6. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will arrange to visit Israel, as well as Egypt and Jordan, during his forthcoming tour.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

As regards a visit to Israel, I would refer the right hon. and learned Gentleman to the reply I have just given. It is my intention to visit Egypt on 1st and 2nd March on my way out to Karachi, but I deeply regret that it is impossible to fit a visit to Jordan into the programme.

Mr. Henderson

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that his decision to have discussions with the members of the Government of Egypt as well as with the Government of Israel will give great satisfaction to all who believe that a peaceful settlement of the differences between those two countries is possible?

8. Mr. Robens

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will indicate his schedule for his calls in the Middle East on his journey to Karachi for the meeting of the South-East Asia Collective Defence Treaty on 6th March.

31. Mr. Langford-Holt

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which countries he proposes to visit during his forthcoming visit to the Middle East; and whether he will take this opportunity to visit Israel in order that he may obtain first-hand knowledge of the situation on both sides of the armistice-line guaranteed by the United Kingdom.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

As the House will be aware, I propose to go to Karachi for the meeting of the Council of the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation. According to my present programme, I hope to visit Cairo, Bahrein and Delhi on my way to Karachi, and Bagdad, Tehran, Ankara and Tel Aviv on my way back.

I am circulating details of my itinerary in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Robens

I am sure the right hon. and learned Gentleman will be aware that we regard these visits to both the Arab countries and the State of Israel with very great pleasure, and we wish him every success in any negotiations he is able to conduct while he is there.

Mr. Lloyd

I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman.

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