44. Mr. Philips Priceasked the Prime Minister whether, consequent upon continuance by the Egyptian Government of obstruction to the plans of the Canal Users' Association for the working of the Canal and to the right of Israeli ships to free passage of the Canal and the Gulf of Aqaba, he will have plans prepared after consultation with the Governments of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika, to exclude Egypt from any increase in water supply from the headwaters of the Nile and Lake Victoria Nyanza.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)No, Sir. This is a complex matter, but I am not persuaded that Her Majesty's Government's policy should be based on the linking of these two questions.
Mr. PriceWould it not be desirable to show Colonel Nasser that we, too, have some cards that we can play?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir; I think that the putting of this Question on the Order Paper has demonstrated that fact.
§ Mr. BevanBut is that quite enough? Is not it true that Egypt has been a beneficiary of international co-operation in securing the withdrawal of French, Israeli and British troops from Egyptian territory? Is it not therefore perfectly proper that we should consider international action in order to secure that Egypt should have regard to other people's opinions?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, but I was asked whether I would consider what would really amount to a breach of the agreement of 1929. That is rather too serious a question to deal with by way of Question and Answer. I indicated that in my view these matters were not necessarily linked.
§ Mr. BevanBut is not there apprehension in some quarters that Egypt might be the recipient of economic aid from certain nations without first observing international regulations?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is quite another question. This is a question whether we should abrogate the agreement of 1929.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsWill the Prime Minister bear in mind that when, under the colonial development and welfare scheme, we developed the Owen Falls project in Uganda, we consulted and came to an agreement with Egypt, and observed their interests, and that they might now reciprocate?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, I think so. indeed.