§ 12. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has about Egyptian forces now remaining in Yemen; and whether he will make a statement on the effect of the United Nations nonintervention agreement.
§ 28. Mr. Fellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has from the United Nations concerning the reduction in the number of Egyptian troops in the Yemen during the last few weeks.
§ The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Peter Thomas)The Secretary-General of the United Nations has made three reports to the Security Council on the work of the United Nations Yemen Observation Mission, all of which are in the Library of the House. They report United Arab Republic statements and the results of observation by the Mission which, together with the public admission by the United Arab Republic of an earlier maximum of 40,000, suggest a current United Arab Republic strength of some 28,000. I am not aware that there has been any reduction in the last few weeks.
I endorse the Secretary-General's view that the disengagement agreement and the presence of the United Nations Observation Mission has had a pacifying influence on the situation in the Yemen-Saudi Arabia frontier region and could assist towards a political settlement.
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonIs my hon. Friend aware that the words "pacifying influence" have a quite curious sound in view of the continued indiscriminate bombing with high explosive, napalm and various forms of chemical bomb by the Egyptian Air Force in the Yemen? Is not the continued presence of these forces, admitted by the U.A.R., the only obstacle to a settlement in the Yemen by the people of that country themselves?
§ Mr. ThomasI certainly will agree with my hon. Friend that the presence of large foreign forces in the Yemen is a disturbing influence. As to the bombing, the Republican Air Force is undoubtedly equipped with aircraft provided by the U.A.R. I am afraid that these continue to operate inside the Yemen, but, as far as I am aware, there have been no deliberate attacks on targets outside the country recently.
§ Mr. FellDoes my hon. Friend agree that the United States has, perhaps, more influence with Egypt than we have and, because of that, would it not be a good idea if we were to make even further representations to the United States to see whether they will not take a stronger line with Egypt over what she is doing in the Yemen?
§ Mr. ThomasWe are in constant touch with the United States on these matters, as we are on most matters.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerIs it not the fact that many false reports have come out of the Yemen about the alleged fighting—
§ Mr. Biggs-DavisonAlleged fighting?
§ Mr. P. Noel-Baker—and would there not have been much more of it but for the presence of the United Nations?
§ Mr. ThomasI think that the presence of the United Nations in the Yemen is of great benefit, and we certainly support it. We agree, too, that exaggerated reports have been coming from the Yemen.