HC Deb 01 April 1957 vol 568 cc27-8
42. Mr. J. Hynd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to which Middle East countries the Tripartite Declaration applies; and how many of these countries have signified their acceptance of the implications of the doctrine.

63. Mr. Zilliacus

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the termination of the Jordan Treaty, to what extent Her Majesty's Government still recognise as valid the undertakings in the 1950 Tripartite Declaration relating to joint action against aggression across the frontiers and armistice lines of Israel; and whether these undertakings still apply without distinction to both the existing frontier and the existing armistice lines of Israel.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

The Tripartite Declaration was intended to apply to those countries which gave the assurances mentioned in its paragraph 2. These were Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, The Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Syria on the one hand, and Israel on the other. I confirm again that Her Majesty's Government's policy continues to be based on the principles stated in the Declaration. Her Majesty's Government must, however, take into account amongst other things the attitude of the state or states concerned. As the House has been told, Egypt has taken as her stand that she will not accept the implications of the Declaration so far as her defence is concerned.

Mr. Hynd

As the reason why the Foreign Secretary has not told us which of these States have accepted the implications of the Declaration is presumably that none has accepted them, what is the use of this Declaration? In view of the fact that we have already grossly deceived our co-signatories in the case of Egypt, will he make it clear that the Declaration has no value at all?

Mr. Lloyd

The last sentence of my original Answer completely disposes of the suggestion the hon. Gentleman has just made. It is true that the States I have mentioned gave the assurance prescribed in the Declaration.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

Will not the right hon. and learned Gentleman publish the statement by which the Government said that America agreed on 29th October that the Tripartite Declaration did not apply to Egypt?

Mr. Lloyd

That is a different question. If the right hon. Gentleman will put it down in precise terms, I will see if it can be answered.

Mr. Noel-Baker

I have put it down twice in precise terms and have had no satisfactory answer. Is the reason why the Government will not publish it that President Eisenhower publicly announced that the meetings on 28th and 29th October were called to discuss the implementation of the Tripartite Declaration?

Mr. Lloyd

The reason for not publishing it is that it is not usual to publish confidential exchanges between Governments.

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