HC Deb 27 February 1957 vol 565 cc1227-8
28. Mr. McAdden

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish the terms of the ultimatum delivered to Israel in 1948 by His Majesty's Government regarding a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Sinai.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given by my hon. Friend to my hon. Friends the Members for Aberdeenshire, East (Sir R. Boothby) and Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. G. Longden) on 20th February.

Mr. McAdden

Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that I have studied that Answer very carefully and that it is not at all clear from it whether any revelation was made to this House of the issue of the ultimatum at that time? In view of some of the comments that we have lately heard from hon. and right hon. Members on the Front Bench opposite about the issue of an ultimatum recently, can my right hon. and learned Friend tell us whether the House was ever told about the issue of that ultimatum by the Socialist Government in 1948?

Mr. Lloyd

If my hon. Friend will put that question down I will try to answer it.