§ 12. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will raise at the United Nations, as a threat to peace, the preparations now being made by the United Arab Republic for an invasion of Israel in 1963.
§ Mr. P. ThomasI am not aware that such preparations are being made.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonHas not Her Majesty's Embassy in Cairo reported to the Foreign Office an article in an organ of the State-controlled Egyptian Press, Al Ahram, and subsequently put over with great publicity on Cairo Radio's "Voice of the Arabs," containing a statement quoting minutes of a U.A.R. Cabinet meeting at which President Nasser had spoken of "comprehensive war" and a decision to be taken "in 1963 or 1964"? Quite apart from the Tripartite Declaration, has not Great Britain great interests and obligations in the Middle East, and Should not something be done in good time to see that if possible there is greater understanding brought about between Israel and her neighbours?
§ Mr. ThomasYes, I have seen the report of the article in a Cairo newspaper—the paper which, I think, my ho n. Friend mentioned, Al Ahram—of 18th May, which includes an account of a discussion which is alleged to have taken place in the U.A.R. Cabinet in 1959. I do not think we can regard such evidence as proof that active military preparations are being made today.