§ 59. Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for what reasons Britain was not represented at recent meetings attended by the other members of the Bagdad Pact; and when it is intended to hold a meeting at which Britain will be represented.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydThe recent meeting at Ankara was a meeting between representatives of Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey. This was not a meeting of the Bagdad Pact Council, and there was therefore no reason for Her Majesty's Government to be represented. Her Majesty's Government were however kept fully informed of the discussions. A date for the next meeting of the Bagdad Pact Council has not yet been fixed.
§ Mr. BrockwayMay I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman whether this was not in fact a meeting of all the members of the Council, with the exception of a representative of this Government, and that this Government were deliberately excluded from that gathering because of the unpopularity of the British action in the Suez Canal area? In view of that, is it not time that this Government reexamined their whole relationship with the Bagdad Pact?
§ Mr. LloydI do not think that I can answer the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question better than by quoting the words of the Prime Minister of Pakistan:
Great Britain was a member of the Bagdad Pact. No one was changing this state of affairs. Britain's adherence to the Pact strengthened it. If America too joined the Pact its strength would increase. The accession of America to the Pact without Britain could not be contemplated. Britain would remain a member of the Pact.That was the view of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, and I think he put it very well.