HC Deb 05 November 1962 vol 666 cc597-9
41. Mr. Dugdale

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether Her Majesty's Government intend to recognise the new Government in the Yemen.

Mr. Heath

I have nothing to add to my remarks on this subject during the debate on the Address on 31st October.

Mr. Dugdale

How strong and how stable have the new Government to be before they can be recognised? Have not Her Majesty's Government recognised Governments far less strong and stable than this in the past? Is the reason that this one happens to be supported by President Nasser, of whom, for obvious reasons, Her Majesty's Government are not particularly fond? Will the right hon. Gentleman say, at least, that the Government are glad that some of the worse excesses of feudalism are being ended by the present Government in the Yemen?

Mr. Heath

I dealt with this at some length in my speech on the Address last Wednesday. I think that the criteria for recognition are well known to the right hon. Gentleman. Broadly speaking, the regime must have effective control over much the greater part of the country. As the House knows, Her Majesty's Government have been endeavouring to rehabilitate relations with President Nasser. The question of the nature of the regime is not in issue in recognition, as is widely recognised throughout the world. The question of the control exercised by the regime throughout the country is one of the major criteria.

Mr. P. Noel-Baker

Whatever is done about recognition, will the Government, in view of the British interests in this area, raise the question of the threat of war with Saudi Arabia in the United Nations at an early date?

Mr. Heath

I have seen newspaper reports of this, but one must have more reliable information before one can give an answer to a question like that.

Mr. W. Yates

In view of reports this morning that there is a state of war between the Yemen and Saudi Arabia, will my right hon. Friend make a statement about recognition, or does he say that we are not prepared to recognise this Government?

Mr. Heath

I have no statement to make on the reports to which my hon. Friend refers.

Mr. Paget

Does the Lord Privy Seal say that, with all our interests there, we have not got reliable information about what is happening in the Yemen, that we have not got reliable information about whether an Egyptian army has arrived there and we have not got reliable information about whether an Egyptian navy is operating off the coast? If so, what on earth are we doing there?

Mr. Heath

I am saying that, at the moment, we have no reliable reports about a state of war between Saudi Arabia and the Yemen.

Mr. Yates

In view of the failure of the Minister to answer any of these questions at all properly, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.