§ 23. Mr. Swinglerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on how many occasions in the last five years Her Majesty's Government have put forward proposals to the United Nations for a United Nations police force on the borders of Israel and the Arab States; and with what results.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerMy right hon. and learned Friend has repeatedly raised this matter privately but, as he said in this House on 24th January, he encountered difficulties, as it was not thought to be practicable. No formal proposals were therefore made.
§ Mr. SwinglerThat seems a most extraordinary statement. Why is it that the Government cannot say that they have put forward publicly any proposals 541 at any time for a United Nations force on this border? Is it not, therefore, quite obvious that it is a piece of the grossest hypocrisy, which they have produced as an excuse for military operations?
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerMy right hon. Friend made the position quite clear in his speech of 24th January.
§ Mr. RobensWhen it was communicated by myself to the Foreign Secretary in January that Colonel Nasser was prepared to withdraw his troops a kilometre from the frontier provided that the Israelis would do the same, and that he would not then object if an international police force occupied that zone, why did not the Foreign Secretary at once raise it with the United Nations?
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerI should like to have notice of that question.