HC Deb 19 May 1958 vol 588 cc870-5
14. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what discussions are taking place with the Government of the United States of America under the Tripartite Declaration in view of the recent incidents on the Lebanon-Syrian frontier; and whether he will make a statement.

15. Mr. E. Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he is taking to protect British interests in the Lebanon.

17. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what official consultations have taken place with the United States of America with regard to the movement of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces in the vicinity of the Lebanon.

20. Viscount Hinchingbrooke

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken to meet a request from the Iraq Petroleum Company for the evacuation of British personnel from the Lebanon.

21. Mr. du Cann

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what consultations have taken place with the signatories to the Tripartite Declaration of 1950 with regard to its validity and effectiveness; and what alteration is proposed.

23. Mr. Zilliacus

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will call the present situation in Lebanon to the attention of the Security Council as a circumstance tending to cause international friction.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

The responsibility for protecting British and all other foreign interests in the Lebanon is in the first place that of the Lebanese Government. From the information at my disposal, I believe that the Lebanese Government will be able to discharge their responsibility in this respect. Her Majesty's Government have received no request for evacuation from the Iraq Petroleum Company, with whom they are in touch, or from anyone else. Her Majesty's Government are however taking routine precautions.

Her Majesty's Government are in close touch with the United States Government, and with their other Allies, with regard to the situation. In reply to the Question of my honourable Friend the Member for Taunton (Mr. du Cann), Her Majesty's Government have recently consulted the other signatories of the Tripartite Declaration, and we are all agreed that it remains valid as a declaration of policy. The situation does not however at present seem to be the sort which the Tripartite Declaration was designed to meet.

The recent announcement of the Lebanese Foreign Minister indicates that subversion and incitement from outside the Lebanon is playing an important part in the current disorders.

On the question of referring the situation to the Security Council, I consider that that is primarily a matter for the Government of the Lebanon, but I am having discussions on this matter at the present time. There is much to be said for this course.

With regard to the movement of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces, as far as Her Majesty's Government are concerned, there are no plans. If other forces assigned or earmarked to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation were to be moved, it would be necessary for the Government concerned to notify the North Atlantic Council. No such notification has been made of which I am aware.

Mr. Henderson

In view of the allegations which are contained in the Soviet statement with regard to the Middle East, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman make it quite clear that the Western Governments have no intention of intervening militarily in the situation in the Lebanon?

Mr. Lloyd

The situation is uncertain and obscure, and I cannot make a statement such as that for which the right hon. and learned Gentleman asks. What I will certainly say is that no action will be taken contrary to the Charter or the established rules of international law.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke

Has my right hon. and learned Friend had drawn to his attention the statement appearing in The Times today to the effect that Mr. Dulles last week told leading senators that, in certain circumstances, and if called upon to do so, to render assistance to the Lebanese Government or to protect the lives of American personnel in the Lebanon, United States forces might be prepared to effect a landing? Does my right hon. and learned Friend realise that a very large majority of the people of this country would wish the British Government to be associated with that position, if need be?

Mr. Lloyd

I do not think it very wise to deal with certain hypotheses which may arise. My noble Friend must be content with the statement I made. This is a serious situation, but it is not clear yet what will happen. We believe that the Lebanese Government will be able to maintain order and, so far as any intervention by ourselves is concerned, I said that it would not be contrary to the Charter or the established rules of international law.

Mr. Shinwell

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman say whether there is any evidence of external subversive forces outside the Lebanon being responsible for causing disorder, and can he say also, in view of the fact that the United States naval forces are regarded as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, whether N.A.T.O. was consulted before there was any move?

Mr. Lloyd

Without doubt, there is evidence of subversive influence from outside. I think that there have been cases of arms being run, of frontier incidents and of a great deal of propaganda from outside, and also of citizens of other countries taking part in the disorders. There is a good deal of evidence to that effect. As regards the second part of the right hon. Gentleman's question, so far as I understand it, the Sixth Fleet is not part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces.

Mr. du Cann

While welcoming my right hon. and learned Friend's reaffirmation of the Tripartite Declaration, may I ask whether he is aware of the view, very widely held, that it urgently needs strengthening and broadening, and that we shall never get permanent peace in this area until it is made perfectly plain that the great Powers will insist upon nothing less? Will my right hon. and learned Friend say whether we are continuing to consult with our Allies and take part in every helpful development there is in this connection so as to strengthen that?

Mr. Lloyd

I will certainly bear my hon. Friend's point in mind. Of course, the Tripartite Declaration did begin: …having reviewed certain questions affecting the peace and stability of the Arab States and Israel… I think that most of us consider that the Tripartite Declaration was directed towards that situation and the frontiers of Israel, but I will bear my hon. Friend's point in mind.

Mr. Fletcher

Will the Foreign Secretary say whether, in so far as British naval forces are operating in the Eastern Mediterranean, they are doing so as part of N.A.T.O. forces or acting independently?

Mr. Lloyd

I would like the hon. Gentleman to put that question down. My impression is that they are acting independently.

Mr. Bevan

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman find out and let us know about that? It is very confusing. When we hear that the United States is a member of N.A.T.O. and the Sixth Fleet is not, and that it is uncertain whether the British Fleet in the Eastern Mediterranean is part of N.A.T.O. or not, we really do not know where the frontiers lie, whether between weapons or between nations.

Mr. Lloyd

What I can say to the right hon. Gentleman is what I said in my original Answer, that there is no question of any British forces assigned to N.A.T.O. being used.

Mr. Zilliacus

I welcome the right hon. and learned Gentleman's declaration that there is much to be said for referring the matter to the Security Council, and I accept his point that it is mainly a matter for the Lebanon Government, but does the Foreign Secretary not agree that it is also the right of other members of the United Nations to refer the matter, if they think fit, and will he give an undertaking that, so far as it does become a matter of international concern, the Government will insist upon it being dealt with through the United Nations on the basis of the Charter and not by any form of armed intervention on any pretext outside the action of the Security Council?

Mr. Lloyd

I have made a carefully considered answer about the possibilities. I agree with the hon. Gentleman that, although I think that it is primarily a matter for the Lebanon, that does not rule out either the right or, indeed, the responsibility of other States in certain circumstances to refer the matter. But, for the moment, I expect that the Government of the Lebanon have a good deal of other matters on their hands.

Mr. Dugdale

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman really saying, in his previous answer, that he does not know under whose command the British forces come in this area and who is to give the order as to what they are to do?

Mr. Lloyd

The question I was asked was whether British naval units were being moved which were not part of the N.A.T.O. Command. That is a question of which I should want notice.