BAGDAD PACT

HC Deb 11 February 1957 vol 564 cc903-4

8. Mr. Zilliacus

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the reaffirmation by Her Majesty's Government of its intention to defend the territory of Iraq or Iran against subversion, as provided in paragraph 5 of the final communiqué by the Council of the Bagdad Pact of 22nd November, 1955, whether he will give an assurance that he will oppose the use of British forces in any circumstances for armed intervention in the internal affairs of these countries, even at the request of their Governments.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

There are many other ways than armed intervention of defending a country against subversion, and I am not going to be drawn into a discussion of various sets of hypothetical circumstances at the present time.

Mr. Zilliacus

Is it not a fact that we are pledged at the request of these Governments to help them to put down popular risings which they may choose to call subversion, and does not that mean that we are in danger of doing the same thing in these countries as the Russians are doing in Hungary?

Mr. Lloyd

There is no provision in the communiqué to which the hon. Gentleman refers for armed intervention to deal with subversion. There are many other ways of dealing with it.

12. Mr. Leather

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will seek the agreement of the co-signatories to a revision of the terms of the Bagdad Pact.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

I see no reason to take such a step.

Mr. Leather

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that Mr. Dulles recently told a Congressional Committee that the Bagdad Pact stinks of colonialism because Britain is a member of it, and does not he think that some action ought to be taken to stop these continual insults from Washington, which prejudice our relations both with the members of the Pact and with the United States?

Mr. Lloyd

I certainly was not aware that the American Secretary of State had made any such statement, and I should like to see the words alleged to have been said by him before I make further comment. With regard to the general situation on the Bagdad Pact, I would refer my hon. Friend, as I referred the House the other day, to the statement of the Prime Minister of Pakistan with regard to that matter which, I think, puts it into proper perspective.