HC Deb 12 November 1956 vol 560 cc541-2
24. Mr. Swingler

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action has been taken by Her Majesty's Government in the last five years to enforce the United Nations' Resolution condemning Egypt's interference with shipping to Israel; and what proposals have been submitted by Her Majesty's Government to the United Nations to carry out this Resolution.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

Her Majesty's Government have at all times been willing to co-operate with other members of the United Nations in carrying out the Security Council Resolution of 1st September, 1951. The failure of Egypt to comply with this Resolution was considered by the Security Council early in 1954. The United Kingdom delegate supported a draft resolution calling upon Egypt to comply with the terms of the 1951 Resolution. But this was vetoed by the Soviet delegate. The United Kingdom delegate also suggested that the matter should again be considered within 90 days if Egypt still failed to comply, but this suggestion was not pursued. The question of compliance with the 1951 Resolution has not been considered again by the Security Council.

Mr. Swingler

Does not the Joint Under-Secretary of State recall that for half of this period British troops were standing on the banks of the Canal, and that for all of the period Her Majesty's Government were supplying arms to Arab Governments which were declared enemies of Israel? Why cannot he point to any practical proposals whatsoever made by Her Majesty's Government for enforcing the United Nations Resolution?

Mr. Dodds-Parker

There are a lot of questions in that supplementary, but I would say that the peace of the area was kept under the Tripartite Declaration of 1950 by the control of arms to both sides until the Soviet intervention of a year or so ago.

Mr. J. Griffiths

If the peace of the area was kept under the Tripartite Declaration, why did the Government, tear up the Declaration last week and throw it overboard?

Mr. Dodds-Parker

I do not think that that arises out of this Question. It was fully answered in the debate last week.