§ 37. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Lord Privy Seal whether there has been any change in the volume and character of Egyptian propaganda and subversion against British territories and interests in the Middle East and Africa since the announcement of the extension of the United Arabic Republic to Syria and Iraq and the President of the Board of Trade's visit to Cairo; whether he will defer further direct British aid to Egypt until a more peaceful atmosphere prevails; and whether Her Majesty's Government will seek means, if possible in co-operation with the United Kingdom's co-signatories of the Tripartite Declaration, to give effect to the purposes of that Declaration, and otherwise clarify and stabilise the position.
§ The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. J. B. Godber)There has been no noticeable change in the volume or character of Egyptian propaganda about British territories and interests in the Middle East and Africa in the period mentioned. I have no present evidence of attempts at direct subversion.
The credit made available in August, 1962, is now almost wholly committed. No fresh credit is under consideration at present.
As to the third part of the Question, I can add nothing to the reply my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal gave to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) on 8th April and to that which my right 433 hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Longden) on 14th May.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonWhy was British aid offered to the United Arab Republic at the very time that Cairo radio was howling for the death of King Hussein? While the statements made by President Kennedy, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal are welcome as far as they go, does my hon. Friend think that the position of the Western Powers is sufficiently clear to deter aggression against friendly States in the Middle East, which could bring on general war?
§ Mr. GodberIn reply to the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, I would say that this loan was arranged largely to assist British exports, and my hon. Friend should not ignore the implications there. On the second part, I am quite confident that the States concerned are fully aware of the considerations involved.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs the Minister of State unaware of the prime objective of President Nasser, which is to gain complete control over the whole of the Arab countries—which he may well do in the course of a year or so—and that when he has done that he may begin to blackmail this country and interfere with British interests?
§ Mr. GodberI am aware of all the implications in this area, but I am also aware of the fact that it is dangerous to predict what is likely to happen in the Middle East.
§ Mr. MayhewIs the hon. Gentleman aware that his reply on the question of the Tripartite Declaration was rather ambiguous? Does he recall the assurances given by the Lord Privy Seal some weeks ago in the House to the effect that he would seriously consider the concept of extending the United Nations presence around the frontiers of Israel and Jordan? What has been done about that?
§ Mr. GodberMy reply on this matter was a direct reference to what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister had said in relation to the Tripartite Declaration, and I have nothing to add in relation to that matter.
§ Sir H. Legge-BourkeWill the Minister of State see if anything can be done to persuade the United States to put a little pressure on President Nasser to see that the financial aid which the Americans have been giving to Egypt is not spent on buying Russian arms and indulging in propaganda which is disturbing to peace?
§ Mr. GodberI should like to look at that point, although I am not aware that it has been so used.