§ 15. Mr. Taverneasked the Lord Privy Seal whether Her Majesty's Government will now recognise the republican Government of the Yemen.
§ Mr. HeathNo, Sir. But Her Majesty's Government are keeping the question of whether the Yemeni republican regime fulfils the normal criteria for recognition under consideration.
§ Mr. TaverneAre not the Government being excessively cautious in this, since the republican regime has now been in power for nearly six months and previous revolutions have lasted only a matter of days? Will not the Lord Privy Seal seriously examine how far non-recognition is affecting our relationship for the worse with Arab nationalist forces in the Middle East, which are gaining in strength all the time?
§ Mr. HeathIt is not so much a question of how long a revolution has lasted but of the conditions in the country in which the revolution has taken place, and the degree of control over it. On the last part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, our relationship with the other countries is one of the factors to be taken into consideration the whole time.
§ Mr. P. WilliamsIs my right hon. Friend aware that his Answer will give great satisfaction to many of us on this side; and that, in fact, it is desperately important that no recognition should be given to a régime supported from outside its own borders?
§ 24. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Lord Privy Seal whether Her Majesty's Government will now raise at the United Nations the Egyptian air bombardment of civilians and their property in Yemen, including the use of napalm, as a threat to peace; and whether he will make a statement, having particular regard to relevant international conventions.
§ Mr. HeathDr. Bunche, the Under-Secretary for Special Political Affairs in the United Nations Secretariat, recently paid an exploratory visit to the Yemen and has returned to New York to report to the Secretary-General. I should prefer to await the outcome of this before making any comment.