§ Q6. Mr. Norwoodasked the Prime Minister what considerations led Her Majesty's Government to suspend the constitution of Aden State at a time when discussions with the Government of Egypt were in progress.
§ The Prime MinisterThe urgent need to restore law and order, Sir.
§ Mr. NorwoodWould the Prime Minister not agree that the arrival of a Labour Government on the scene a year ago presented an unrivalled opportunity, untainted with the Suez affair, of improving relations with the Arab nations generally? Is it not unfortunate that we are governed by the same anti-Nasserite complex which seems to govern so many officials and hon. Gentlemen opposite?
§ The Prime MinisterThere is no anti-Nasserite complex. The reason why these hopes have not been fulfilled is that despite our efforts to get a dialogue going with the Egyptian Government, there has been a campaign of subversion and murder in Aden. We have sought to remove 1232 the difficulties. I myself made representations to Aden and South Arabia in August and represented our desire to get a timetable agreed for independence, but they were interested in other things. The campaign of subversion increased and we had no alternative to taking the steps we did.