§ 39. Mrs. L. Jegerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's conciliation efforts on the question of Cyprus.
§ Commander NobleThe offer of conciliation in the Cyprus question was made not by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as such, but personally by the Secretary-General in accordance with the resolution adopted unanimously at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Ministerial meeting in December, 1956. Any progress report is therefore a matter for Monsieur Spaak.
§ Mrs. JegerCannot the House be informed whether any talks have taken place or whether there is a complete standstill, especially as it has been told that any political settlement in Cyprus must await a report of the N.A.T.O. effort?
§ Commander NobleI am afraid that I have nothing to add to the original answer.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsSince it appeared when the statement was made by the Secretary of State for the Colonies in the debate on Cyprus that Her Majesty's Government attach great importance to it, are we to assume from the reply that the effort on behalf of N.A.T.O. has completely failed and that we must take a fresh initiative?
§ Commander NobleNo, Sir; I do not think the right hon. Gentleman can draw those conclusions. We still attach great importance to it.