§ 28. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether British ships are now exercising the right of free and innocent passage through the Gulf of Aqaba as an international waterway.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydYes, Sir.
§ Mr. HendersonIn exercising that right, do the Government intend to consult the Egyptian Government with a view to securing their agreement to the passage of British ships through the Gulf of Aqaba, by reason of our view that we regard it as an international waterway?
§ Mr. LloydI do not think that what the right hon. and learned Gentleman suggests is at all necessary. At the present time, a number of British-registered ships are sailing freely through the straits of Aqaba.
§ Mr. LloydI do not know of any such ship at the moment, but that is really a matter for shipowners—
§ Mr. LloydIt is a matter indeed as to whether they have a worth-while cargo, a satisfactory charter, etc., but so far as the legal position is concerned we have stated again and again what we regard as our position.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
Mr. DugdaleOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I simply wanted to clear up what the Foreign Secretary meant by his statement. It was not at all clear.
§ Mr. SpeakerI thought that I heard him all right.