HC Deb 26 June 1957 vol 572 cc194-5
18. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Egyptian Government have now stated their position in answer to the questions put in the recent Security Council debate.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

No, Sir, but the Secretary-General is still in touch with the Egyptian Government about their replies to these questions.

28 and 29. Mr. Berwick

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what initiative has been taken and what resolutions have been proposed by Her Majesty's Government's representative at the Security Council of the United Nations calling for the application in the Suez Canal dispute of the six principles adapted by the United Nations Organisation last October; and what further steps; Her Majesty's Government propose to take in this regard;

(2) what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the United States Government with regard to joint support, as allies, in the Security Council, of a Resolution calling for the application or enforcement of the six principles adopted by the United Nations last October in relation to a settlement of the Suez Canal dispute.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

No Resolution on the lines suggested by the hon. Member was tabled by the United Kingdom representative on the Security Council, or is contemplated. Such Resolutions would no doubt be vetoed like the one we put forward last October.

I think it would be unwise to try to measure the results of these meetings in terms of resolutions. On 27th May my right hon. and learned Friend replied to Questions in the House on the results of the last Security Council discussion on 20th and 21st May. At this debate a number of pertinent questions were put to the Egyptian Government by the United Kingdom representative and others, with the full support of the United States representative who was in the chair. Since then the Secretary-General has: been, and remains, in touch with the Egyptian Government over these questions.

Mr. Beswick

Does the Minister really think that pertinent questions are enough? As this country, willingly or otherwise, did ultimately accept the Resolution of the United Nations, does not he think we could have salvaged some credit from this miserable business by putting up a better fight at the United Nations for insistence on the observance of these principles?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

As I said in my original Answer, last October we tried in the latter part of the Resolution we sponsored to put into effect the six principles that were contained in the first half. That second half was vetoed and any attempt on this occasion to try to define what was meant by those six principles in a Resolution at the United Nations would again be vetoed, and I do not think it would have helped towards a solution of this problem.

Mr. Wade

Would the hon. Gentleman answer a part of this Question which he does not appear to have answered? What futher step do Her Majesty's Government propose to take, either on their own or in conjunction with the Government of the United States?

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

I think we must first await a report from the Secretary-General on his discussions with the Egyptian Government about their answers to the questions that were put.