§ 7. Mr. Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on how many occasions between the date when President Nasser announced the nationalisation of the Suez Canal and the commencement of armed conflict between Britain and Egypt, the Egyptian Government prevented, or attempted, to prevent, the passage of British ships along the Suez Canal.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerNone, Sir.
§ Mr. LewisAre we to take it from that reply that the only occasion upon which British shipping has been interfered with has been since the British Government have been in Egypt attempting to cause war with Egypt? Is it a fact that before this there was no attempt to interfere with British shipping?
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerAs my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal has indicated, we intervened in order to stop a war spreading—and we stopped it "prematurely" as the Leader of the Opposition said. Interference with British and world shipping has been due to wanton and premeditated action taken by the Egyptian authorities largely after the cease-fire.
§ Mr. Langford-HoltHas my hon. Friend answered that Question correctly by saying that no British ships have been interfered with when proceeding to or from Israel on their lawful occasions?
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerI should like notice of that question, but I think my hon. Friend is right in his implication.
§ 14. Mr. du Cannasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet received a reply to the offer made by Her Majesty's Government to the United Nations to put our salvage resources at their disposal to clear the Suez Canal of obstruction.
§ Commander NobleI would refer my hon. Friend to the interim statement made by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal on 22nd November. I have nothing to add to that statement.
§ Mr. du CannIs it not absolutely vital in the interests of all nations, not only the user nations but Egypt, the Commonwealth, including India, of everybody, that the Canal should be open to traffic as quickly as possible? Will my right hon. and gallant Friend please say whether it is the fact that the Royal Navy and British salvage experts could start this work at once? Will my right hon. and gallant Friend please also say how long, by contrast, it is likely to take other salvage organisations if asked to get on with this work? Is it not time that counts?
§ Commander NobleI will answer the last two parts of the supplementary question first, if I may. Yes, Sir, it is a fact 8 that we have cleared one part of the Canal and that the naval forces could go in if they were allowed to do so. I am afraid that I have not the information to reply to the other part of the supplementary question. Of course it is the desire of Her Majesty's Government that the Canal should be cleared as rapidly as possible. As my right hon. Friend stated last week, the clearance of the Canal is vital and urgent for all concerned, and that, Mr. Speaker, was the view of the United Nations on Saturday, and it was not opposed by Egypt.
§ Mr. RobensHas it not been made abundantly clear that the quickest way of clearing the Canal is for the British Government to accept the decisions of the United Nations and withdraw our forces?
§ Commander NobleThe right hon. Gentleman has forgotten paragraph 4 of the Resolution of 2nd November, which urges—
… that upon the cease-fire being effective steps be taken to reopen the Suez Canal and restore freedom of navigation.We have cleared our part of the Canal—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—the part of the Canal in which our forces happen to be stationed. [HON. MEMBERS: "Ah."] Egypt has not only blocked the other part, but will not allow her sector to be cleared until the United Kingdom and French forces have left.
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that there is some confusion about this matter? Would it not advance policy, and generally aid not only our cause but that of the United Nations in securing the clearance of the Canal, if Her Majesty's Government formally offered the British and French naval salvage units, with their personnel, to the United Nations?
§ Commander NobleI think we have made that quite clear on several occasions.
§ 15. Captain Pilkingtonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the necessary work on reopening that part of the Suez Canal not occupied by Anglo-French forces has yet begun; and whether, if the United Nations have not been able to bring this about, he will propose to the United Nations that the Anglo-French forces 9 immediately take over the rest of the Canal, initiate the necessary work and then hand it over to the United Nations.
§ Commander NobleThe answer to the first part of the Question is, so far as Her Majesty's Government are aware, No, Sir. With regard to the second part, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal on 22nd November. I have nothing to add to that statement.
§ Captain PilkingtonIs it not generally agreed that the whole world, except possibly Egypt and Russia, wants the Canal open again? Can my right hon. and gallant Friend say how long he thinks Egypt will continue to dictate to the United Nations?
§ Commander NobleNo, Sir; I wish I could.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerIf we want Egypt to co-operate on paragraph 4 of the Resolution of 2nd November, would it not be a good idea for us to obey the rest of the Resolution, which calls upon us to withdraw?
§ Commander NobleI think that the American delegate on Saturday made the position on our withdrawal quite clear.