§ 2. Mr. W. Yatesasked the Lord Privy Seal what reports have been received by Her Majesty's Government's representative at the United Nations concerning Israel's violation of the neutral zones under the control of the Mixed Armistice Commission of the United Nations, especially with regard to the Israeli Govvernment's tunnelling operations designed to abstract the waters of the Jordan River.
§ Mr. GodberI am not aware of any major violation of a demilitarised zone such as that indicated in the Question.
§ Mr. YatesThat may be, but is the hon. Gentleman aware that any abstraction of the Jordan waters by either party which is not according to international law would be most undesirable and dangerous at this time?
§ Mr. GodberYes, I realise that there are dangers inherent in this question of abstraction. I hope that anything of that sort which could be done by mutual agreement will be done, and I hope the United Nations could be used for this purpose.
§ Sir B. JannerWill the Joint Under-Secretary of State please tell his hon. Friend that the best way of dealing with these matters is by agreement between both parties to ensure that there is sufficient water for each, and that there is no violation whatsover in this matter by Israel?
§ Mr. GodberI have already said that there is no violation in this matter. I do not think I can usefully add to that reply.
§ 5. Mr. W. Yatesasked the Lord Privy Seal, in view of the threat of a violation of the Armistice Agreement, whether 925 Her Majesty's Government will reaffirm their obligations under the Tripartite Declaration of 1950, concerning the Israel Armistice lines, in the same way as was done by the United States of America in 1960; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GodberI am not aware of a threatened violation of one of the Armistice Agreements.
§ Mr. YatesThe Minister has not really answered my Question. The question is, if there is a violation of the Armistice Agreement, what is our position under the Tripartite Declaration?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. That makes the question hypothetical unless there is a violation.
§ Sir B. JannerMay I again ask the Minister to point out to his hon. Friend that the constant bellowing of Nasser and his friends in the matter of declaring war against a State which is part and parcel of the United Nations is something to which he should attend rather than raise questions of this nature in the House?
§ Mr. GodberThere are many difficulties in this area. This is a very difficult problem I do not think there is anything that I can usefully add beyond what my right hon. and learned Friend the then Foreign Secretary said on 7th March last year.