§ 29. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what requests have been received from the United Nations for a contribution towards the cost of clearing the Suez Canal and repairing the damage done to it by Egypt; and what reply he has given.
§ Mr. BirchI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to my hon. Friend the Member for Crosby (Mr. Page) on 28th January.
§ Mr. JohnsonAs the United Nations has refused our offer of ships to help to clear the Canal, is it not the case that we are under no particular obligation to pay for the damage done by Egypt to an international waterway?
§ Mr. BirchThe Secretary-General of the United Nations has specifically said that the question of payment for clearance is a subject for future negotiation.