§ 49. Mr. Pagetasked the Prime Minister whether he will instruct the General Officer Commanding Middle East Forces to enter into consultations with the Israeli High Command as to the means necessary to implement the Tripartite Agreement, should this become necessary.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Mr. PagetAre not commitments like the Belgium commitment in 1914, in regard to which nobody quite knows whether they are to be implemented, a most dangerous sort of commitment? Would it not be a great deal safer if we did somethig practical which would evidence to the world our intention of fulfilling those commitments? What is the objection to having preliminary talks in order that we may know what we are going to do?
§ The Prime MinisterI think the hon. and learned Member will consider on reflection that that is scarcely a practical 558 proposal. As he knows, the engagement is to all concerned, and his proposal presumably would involve consultations with all concerned. That is hardly a practical military matter on which we can engage.
§ Mr. GaitskellAs it is now several weeks since the Prime Minister announced that discussions were taking place in Washington about the implementation of the Tripartite Declaration, can he tell us what has happened as a result of those discussions, and whether any decisions have been reached?
§ The Prime MinisterI said at the time that I could not give publicly details of the military decisions if any were arrived at. As to political matters, if the right hon. Member will put down a Question I will certainly see whether I am in a position to give him a detailed answer.
§ Sir R. BoothbyIn the meantime, can my right hon. Friend tell us whether these discussions in Washington are still continuing and, if so, when he expects them to reach a conclusion, as the matter is urgent?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, they are continuing and, as I said to the right hon. Member for Leeds, South (Mr. Gaitskell). I will see whether I can make a detailed reply next week. Part of them is necessarily bound to be of a confidential character. The difficulty will be to see whether a public statement can be made, apart from the confidential nature of the discussion.
§ Mr. GaitskellIs the Prime Minister not aware that a great deal of the value of the outcome of the discussions will be precisely in the publicity accorded to them? Will he please bear that in mind when he gives the statement for which we have asked?
§ The Prime MinisterI have that in mind, but there are different constitutional positions in the two countries, and there are some things which cannot be made public. The important part of the Washington discussions was the indication that plans were being made by the Powers upon whom the principal responsibility will lie. I think that is right. Where I cannot follow the right hon. Gentleman is in making public the plans of the individual countries concerned.
§ Mr. UsborneAs the Foreign Secretary not long ago said in this connection that he hoped that there would be some kind of United Nations body policing the borderlands around Israel, can the Prime Minister tell us how that idea is progressing?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is, of course, quite a different question, although an important one. What I was dealing with was conversations arising out of our engagement under the Tripartite Declaration.