§ 1. Major Wallasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Egyptian engineers are still employed on the control of Nile waters at the Owen Falls Dam.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Selwyn Lloyd)Egyptian engineers are resident at the Owen Falls Dam. They are there as observers.
§ Major WallDoes my right hon. and learned Friend agree that the Sudanese have an equal interest with the Egyptians in control of the Nile waters, and will he take the opportunity, when it arises, to remind Colonel Nasser that the White Nile is still controlled from British territory?
§ Mr. StokesIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the Egyptians subscribed£2 million towards 2 the heightening of this dam, and that, in fact, whether they like it or not, as a result, anyone who does control it can stop 80 per cent. of the flow of the White Nile for three years?
§ Mr. LloydIt is, I think, a fact that considerable sums of money were subscribed. Of course, at the moment the plans for storing water have not yet begun to take effect. There is still a technical survey to take place, and after that an arrangement to be made by the Egyptian authorities for compensation to certain interests.
§ 7. Mr. Bennasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the changed situation in the relations between the United Kingdom and Egypt, he will now initiate a conference of representatives of all those countries which depend upon Nile waters.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydThe situation has not changed since this question was last raised in the House. As my hon. Friend said in reply to the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Mr. Brockway) on 11th February, Her Majesty's Government would be in favour of holding a conference at the appropriate time. Before a full-scale conference can usefully be held, a great deal of technical consultation and preparation will be needed. Such discussions are already taking place between the technical authorities in British East Africa and the Sudan.
§ Mr. BennCan the right hon. and learned Gentleman give an assurance that the conditions which prevail at the moment in regard to the interests of the 3 user countries, including Egypt, will be fully considered in summoning any new conference?
§ Mr. H. FraserWould my right hon. and learned Friend confirm that any international agreement here can only be based on the proper respect for international law by all countries concerned?
§ Mr. LloydI entirely agree with my hon. Friend. It seems to me that this is a precedent for having regard to the users' interests which might well be followed in another connection.