§ Mr. Healey (by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Defence if he will make a statement on incidents inside the territory of the Yemen Republic involving 45 military personnel of the British Army, Air Force and Royal Marines.
§ The Minister of Defence (Mr. Peter Thorneycroft)At 3 p.m. local time on Saturday, 22nd June, a party of 44 Service men and Service women, officers and other ranks, all from H.Q. Middle East Command, set out in the State of Lahej, which is part of the Aden Federation, for an exercise forming part of the normal programme of adventure training.
Their planned route, if it had been followed, would have kept them well away from the frontier with the Yemen. Unfortunately, while moving along desert tracks during the night, they took the wrong turning. This brought them into Yemeni territory at about 9 p.m. where they were fired upon by tribesmen. The party split up and 18 members, including four women, escaped. The remainder were pinned down by fire and later surrendered. One Royal Marine and three soldiers were killed and two others were slightly wounded.
The four women captured and the bodies of those killed have now been returned, leaving 18 male prisoners in Yemeni hands. Negotiations for the return of these are continuing.
I have asked the Commander-in-Chief Middle East, to carry out a full inquiry into this incident. Meantime, I know that the House will wish to join me in extending sympathy to the families concerned.
§ Mr. HealeyFirst, may I say that all of us on this side of the House would certainly wish to express our sympathy 946 to all those concerned, the relatives of those who lost their lives?
May I say that many of us are disturbed that in a territory larger than the United Kingdom it should have been thought necessary and proper to carry out an exercise of this nature, involving feminine members of Her Majesty's Forces, close to the frontier of a State with which we have no diplomatic relations and with which political relations are not good at the present time?
In view of the fact that the local commander is now instituting an inquiry, may I ask whether the results of the inquiry will be presented by the Minister to the House as soon as possible?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI can assure the hon. Member that I am as concerned as he is about the incident, which, plainly, was of a very serious character. It is not the practice to publish reports of military courts of inquiry, but I recognise the House's interest in this matter and will certainly give it all the information I can as soon as it is available to me.
§ Mr. W. YatesWill the Minister consider asking his right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to communicate with the Government of the Republic through the United States and to ask for the help of the Italian Consul-General in Ta'izz so that the arrangements for the release of the soldiers can be conducted by the diplomatic services and by our allies?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe United States Government, who represent British interests in the Yemen, have been asked to ask their chargés ďaffaires in Ta'izz to request the Yemeni authorities to return the missing men. I have no further information on this point at this stage.
§ Mr. Harold DaviesIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that on both sides of the House we regret very much this sad accident? Will he have consultations with the Foreign Secretary to try to clean up this position between the Yemeni Republic and Britain? The United States recognises the Yemen. After our withdrawal of the legation at Taiba on 26th February—10 days later—we were attacking it with 300 U.A.R. troops under British officers. Because of this problem, is it not time that U Thant's proposal for a demilitarised buffer zone in this area was accepted?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThat question raises wider points. Whatever the position about recognition, I think that the House will agree this is not the kind of frontier which, under any circumstances, one can run any risks about crossing. It is about this that the inquiry will take place.