HC Deb 04 December 1957 vol 579 cc368-9
17. Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement regarding his recent discussions with the Crown Prince of the Yemen.

19. Mr. Redhead

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, as the result of his recent discussions with the Crown Prince of the Yemen, an agreement has now been reached on the demarcation of the border between the Aden Protectorate and the Yemen.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

I have nothing to add to what I said in answer to a Question from my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Major Wall) on 27th November.

Mr. Stonehouse

Would the Foreign Secretary agree that his statement last week did not go beyond a general expression of good will, and, in order to avoid misunderstanding on this subject, would he state what were the claims of the Crown Prince in relation to the Aden Protectorate of the Aden Colony and what was the reply to those claims?

Mr. Lloyd

For once I think that a general expression of good will was not a bad thing. So far as the disputes with the Yemen are concerned, it is well known what they are and I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by rehearsing them. We did not abandon our position nor did the Yemenis abandon theirs, but we hope that an atmosphere has been created which will make it possible to pursue a solution.

Mr. Redhead

While I appreciate the nature of the right hon. and learned Gentleman's reply and expression of good will in this matter, may I ask whether he appreciates that it does not carry us beyond the stage of an expression of hope for the future? Can he give some positive assurance that the initiative will be taken to seek a satisfactory settlement of these long-outstanding problems in a part of the world where these problems are becoming increasingly urgent?

Mr. Lloyd

One definite initiative was the invitation to the Crown Prince to come here where the matter was discussed for the first time with a representative member of the Yemen Royal Family—I think he is the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs—in considerable detail, and I think that will be a benefit; at least I hope that it will.