HC Deb 26 June 1957 vol 572 cc205-6
26. Mr. Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply has been sent to the Soviet Note of 19th April proposing a four-Power declaration condemning the use of force in the Middle East.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

A reply was delivered to the Soviet Government on 11th June and was published on 12th June.

Mr. Brockway

Did not the reply indicate that a declaration was unnecessary because of the Charter of the United Nations? Are not there many cases where it has been advisable in a temporary situation to issue declarations? Would not it be very effective in the Middle East now if all the four Powers did declare that they would desist from force?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

The hon. Member gave quite correctly the reasons we do not think it necessary to issue another declaration of this kind. Indeed, the issue of a declaration of this kind would rather look as if we did not put much store by our undertakings to the United Nations.

Mr. Younger

The declaration asked for in the original Soviet Note referred not only to what my hon. Friend the Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) has referred to, but such matters as an arms embargo, which was not included in the Charter. Might not it have been a subject of comment in the reply—as I think it was not—that we would be prepared to engage in a general declaration about an arms embargo? In view of the fact that the Note contained this phrase: Her Majesty's Government naturally agree that the problems of the Middle East cannot be settled by force. would the hon. Gentleman be prepared to give the precise date when this blinding revelation flashed across the minds of Ministers?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

As the right hon. Member knows, it has been discussed at considerable length in this House, if my memory serves me aright. In reply to the first part of the supplementary question, of course we should welcome any sign on the part of the Soviet Union that they would observe the same restraint in regard to arms sales to the Middle East that we have undertaken in the Tripartite Declaration.

Mr. Gower

Should not some distinction be drawn between the use of force to separate combatants in the Middle East and the use of force permanently to occupy territory in other parts of the world?