HC Deb 28 March 1956 vol 550 cc2150-1
42. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further action Her Majesty's Government now propose to take through the United Nations in order to secure a relaxation of tension in the Middle East.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

The right hon. and learned Gentleman will be aware that the Security Council met on 26th March to discuss the situation in Palestine. A draft resolution was introduced by the United States Delegate requesting the Secretary-General to investigate the situation, to arrange for certain measures to be taken by the parties affected in order to reduce existing tension and to report to the Security Council within one month. This Resolution has Her Majesty's Government's full support. The Council adjourned until today.

Mr. Henderson

Can the Foreign Secretary say whether General Burns' organisation—the United Nations Truce Supervisory Organisation—has powers to investigate concentration of troops on either side of the border? If it has, can he say whether it is to investigate, as requested by the Government of Israel, an alleged concentration of Egyptian troops in the Gaza strip?

Mr. Lloyd

I think that I would require notice of the precise definition of the powers, but my impression is that the powers of the Organisation are limited to investigating breaches of the armistice agreement, as a concentration might be, of course.

Mr. S. Silverman

Are we to understand from an earlier Answer of the Foreign Secretary's that in certain circumstances the Powers, including ourselves, who are parties to the Tripartite Declaration might consider taking action not merely outside the United Nations but possibly in conflict with a decision which the United Nations has taken? Having regard to the Answer which he has now given, does he not think that a very far-reaching statement to be made in so casual a way?

Mr. Lloyd

I certainly did not intend to make a statement in a casual way. The point is that there might be absence of decision by the Security Council. That is the contingency for which, of course, it is very necessary to keep open other action.