HC Deb 18 February 1957 vol 565 cc33-8

The following Question stood upon the Order Paper:

119. Mr. YOUNGER

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the agreement to terminate the Anglo-Jordan Treaty on 1st March or 1st April.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. David Ormsby-Gore)

I will, with permission. Sir, answer Question No. 119.

For some time it has been apparent that, in the opinion of both the parties, the Anglo-Jordan Treaty of Alliance, concluded in 1948, no longer serves the best interests of either country.

Her Majesty's Government informed the Jordan Government some weeks ago that they were anxious that the Treaty relations between the two countries should serve to maintain and strengthen the friendship between them and not stand in its way; and that, as I informed the House on 23rd January, they were, therefore, willing in accordance with the wishes of the Jordan Government to enter into immediate discussions with regard to the Treaty.

On 4th February discussions between representatives of the two Governments began in Amman and on 13th February a joint declaration was initialled by them and published. I will circulate the full text in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

This declaration records agreement on certain basic matters, which it is intended to embody in a formal instrument. These matters are: first, the termination of the Treaty by 1st March if possible and in any case not later than 1st April of this year; secondly the withdrawal of British forces stationed in Jordan in pursuance of the objects of the Treaty of 1948, such withdrawal to commence as soon as possible after the signature of formal documents terminating the Treaty and to be completed not later than six months after the termination of the Treaty; thirdly, provision for the removal or disposal within the same period of all British stores, equipment, installations and other property in Jordan.

The Jordan Government have undertaken to give all necessary facilities and assistance in connection with the withdrawal of British forces and the removal and disposal of British property. Joint committees consisting of representatives of the two Governments have been set up and are now meeting to examine the detailed problems involved.

Her Majesty's Government regard the declaration as a satisfactory step in the negotiations. In view of the friendly spirit in which the discussions have so far been conducted, Her Majesty's Government look forward to their early and satisfactory conclusion.

Mr. Younger

While recognising that the collapse of the Government's policy in the Middle East has made our former relations with Jordan obsolete, and that it is right to change them, may I ask whether it is not possible for the Minister to give the House an idea of proposals for the more constructive use of the taxpayers' money in such a way as to maintain our influence in this area? The right hon. Gentleman has not given us such an indication. We shall save quite a lot of money on this. Can he give us an idea of the more useful purposes on which he proposes to spend that money?

Turning to a more detailed point, in view of the fact that, as I understand, some British stores were appropriated during the recent crisis for possible use against Israel, can the Minister give a complete assurance that none of the military stores now in Jordan will be disposed of within the Middle East except in accordance with the principles embodied in the Tripartite Declaration which, we are now to understand, is still part of Her Majesty's Government's policy?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

Yes, Sir. I can certainly give the right hon. Gentleman the assurance that stores will be disposed of only in accordance with the Tripartite Declaration.

I do not really think that it would be appropriate, in answer to the right hon. Gentleman's question, to give a detailed review of Her Majesty's Government's future policy in regard to the Middle East.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

May I follow up what my right hon. Friend the Member for Grimsby (Mr. Younger) has asked? As the Government have spent £70 million on subsidies to Jordan and we have, by the Suez policy, lost all military advantage and all political influence in that area, will not the Government now consider a new policy, and divert this £12 million a year to a United Nations fund for the improvement of economic conditions, to deal with conditions such as those in the Aden Protectorate, for example, which are described by The Times correspondent?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

We have not lost all influence in the area, but, I repeat, this is not the moment to make a declaration of what the Government propose to do with such money as may be available.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

Can my right hon. Friend say what will happen to the permanent installations which have been established by the use of British funds? Will they be sold to the Jordan Government? I am referring to such things as roads, water supply and sewerage installations.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

My noble Friend is talking about rather different matters. The military installations, the military buildings, will be taken over, at a valuation, by the Jordan Government, who will have to pay for them. Development projects are really not the same, and do not really come within the terms of the negotiation which is now going on.

Mr. S. Silverman

Having regard to the different treatment of Jordan and Egypt in the recent crisis, which was then justified by the existence, in one case, of the Anglo-Jordan Treaty, can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what effect the abrogation of that Treaty may be now be expected to have on the Tripartite Declaration in relation to the guarantee of frontiers?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

As has frequently been stated, the Tripartite Declaration stands in relation to Jordan. Her Majesty's Government's obligations for the defence of Jordan now rest on the Tripartite Declaration and, of course, on the Charter of the United Nations.

Mr. Dugdale

Are we to understand that no further subsidies of any kind are to be paid to Jordan by Her Majesty's Government?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I am not going to enter into the details of the negotiation, but I would not say that that was necessarily the case.

Captain Waterhouse

Is my right hon. Friend aware that though, in the sad circumstances that have arisen, this development undoubtedly has become necessary, it will be received with great regret in many quarters, and that this action is very unlikely to eventuate to the advantage of Jordan herself?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

That may well be so.

Dr. Stross

May we be told whether it is true that during recent events a considerable quantity of war materials was rather forcibly borrowed by Jordan from British stores? If that is true, can we be told whether any of it has come back, and, if not, whether we intend to ask for it back?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

Yes, Sir; a certain quantity of military stores was seized from Zerqa during the autumn. We are now investigating exactly what is missing, and we have an assurance that either those stores will be returned to us or that the Jordan Government will pay for such stores as they keep.

Sir C. Mott-Radclyffe

Could the Minister of State explain how military stores and equipment can conceivably be disposed of by 2nd March which, I think, was the earliest date he named?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

They have not to be disposed of by 2nd March. 1st March was the date I mentioned—that the Treaty should be brought to an end, if possible, by 1st March. There will then be six months in which the British troops there will be able to get out what stores they want and to come to some arrangement for the purchase by Jordan of such stores as remain.

Mr. H. Morrison

The Minister has stated that under the Tripartite Declaration there remains the obligation to go to the assistance of Jordan if she is attacked. Does it not also imply that if Israel were attacked by Jordan or someone else we have an equal obligation to go to her defence?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

That is entirely correct.

Following is the text of the joint declaration initialled in Amman on 13th February, 1957. In order to give effect to the desire of the Governments of the United Kingdom and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to terminate the Anglo-Jordan Treaty in an agreed manner, and, at the same time, to preserve peaceful and friendly relations between the two countries, the United Kingdom and Jordanian delegations, being so empowered by their respective Governments, have agreed as follows: 1. The Treaty of Alliance signed between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan at Amman on 15th March, 1948, together with the Annex and any Notes and Letters exchanged upon the signature of the Treaty and any other supplementary agreements relating thereto, will terminate and cease to have effect in virtue of Notes to be exchanged. Both the exchange of Notes and the termination of the Treaty will take place on 1st March if possible, and, in any case, not later than 1st April, 1957. 2. Withdrawal of British forces stationed in Jordan in pursuance of the objects of the Treaty of 1948 will commence as soon as possible after the date of the above-mentioned exchange of Notes, and will be completed not later than six months from the termination of the Treaty. 3. The above-mentioned withdrawal will be conducted in accordance with the following principles:

  1. (a) The Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan will give to the Government of the United Kingdom all necessary facilities and assistance in connection with the withdrawal of British forces.
  2. (b) Until their withdrawal from Jordan is complete, British forces will continue to enjoy all the immunities hitherto enjoyed by them in accordance with the terms of 38 Article 5 of the Annex to the Treaty of Alliance of 1948.
  3. (c) The Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan will give to the Government of the United Kingdom all necessary facilities and assistance for the removal or disposal by the Government of the United Kingdom of all British stores, equipment and other property in Jordan, including any transferred from British depots or installations without United Kingdom Agreement after 30th October, 1956.
  4. (d) The Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan will either:
    1. (i) themselves take over at a fair valuation having regard to the use to which they have been put, any buildings, installations or permanent structures which have been constructed under the terms of Articles 1, 2 and 4 of the Annex to the Treaty of Alliance between the United Kingdom and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan signed on 22nd March, 1946, or under the terms of Articles 1 (C) and 1 (D) of the Annex to the Treaty of Alliance of 1948; or
    2. (ii) afford such facilities as may reasonably be necessary to enable the Government of the United Kingdom to dispose thereof to the best advantage.
  5. (e) The Government of the United Kingdom will take steps to remove or dispose of the aforesaid British property, buildings, installations and permanent structures, and, as is provided in paragraph 2 above, to withdraw, not later than six months from the termination of the Treaty, such British forces as are required to remain in Jordan for the purpose of dealing with this removal or disposal.
4. Joint committees consisting of representatives of the two Governments will be set up forthwith to examine the detailed problems involved in the termination of the Treaty and the withdrawal of British forces. These committees will be guided by the principles set out in paragraph 3 above. They will report back to the conference of the representatives of the two Governments as soon as possible, and, in any case, not later than 20th February. Taking into account these reports, the conference will prepare draft notes for the approval of both Governments. 5. This joint declaration is not in itself the formal instrument terminating the Treaty. 6. This joint declaration was issued on 13th February, 1957, in English and Arabic, both texts being equally authentic.