§ 13. Mr. Sandysasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what information he has as to the foreign sources from which arms and training are being supplied to those who are carrying out attacks upon British and Federal troops in the Federation and bomb outrages in Aden.
§ Mrs. WhiteThe activities to which the right hon. Member refers are known to be the work of the so-called National Liberation Front which is armed and trained by the Egyptian Intelligence Service.
§ Mr. SandysI am grateful to the hon. Lady for speaking so frankly. Does she realise that British people will not very much longer tolerate the maintenance of diplomatic relations with a Government which is actively organising civil war in our territories, and is stimulating the murder of our Service men and their families, and other people for whom we are responsible?
§ Mrs. WhiteAs I have told the House today, it has been made clear to the Egyptian Government that these activities make difficult the improvement in Anglo-U.A.R. relations, which we would welcome. We had hoped that, rather than stimulate terrorism, the U.A.R. Government might have shown some concern for the people of the South Arabian Federation and supported the current preparations for their orderly progress towards independence.
§ Mr. SandysIs not that a very feeble thing to say, that it makes difficult the improvement of relations? I hope that the Government will adopt a much more virile attitude to this problem.
§ Mrs. WhiteIt is hardly for me to adopt a virile attitude. We would wish, as I am sure hon. Members on both sides would wish, to be on friendly terms 537 with the U.A.R. It is they who are making it very difficult for us to maintain friendly relations with them.