§ 11. Mr. Blakerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government have taken at the United Nations in the light of the use of poison gas by the United Arab Republic forces in the Yemen; and if he will make a statement.
§ 74. Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what 75 instructions have been given to the United Kingdom's representatives at the United Nations now that the situation in the Yemen and South Arabia has been reported to the United Nations.
§ 76. Mr. Waltersasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government intend taking in the United Nations in connection with the gas attacks in the Yemen.
§ 77. Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will raise at the United Nations, as a definite threat to peace, the bombing by Egyptian planes of villages in the Yemen using poison gas and, in particular, the recent attack upon Qatar.
§ Mr. George ThomsonI would refer the hon. Members to the Answers I gave to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 20th February and to the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 6th February.—[Vol. 741, c. 199; Vol 740, c. 213.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Before I call the first supplementary question, may I say that I do not propose automatically to call every high-numbered Question which is answered.
§ Mr. BlakerDo not those Answers relate to Saudi Arabia, whereas my Question relates to the use of gas in the Yemen? Does not the Minister of State think it unlikely that the Yemeni representative in New York will raise this question, since his Government are in league with the Egyptians who are using the gas? If the British Government care at all about the preservation of the Geneva Convention, is it not time they did something themselves?
§ Mr. ThomsonMy original reply related to the use of poison gas in the Yemen as well as to the bombing raids. This is first and foremost a matter for the Saudi Arabian Government, who have already made an approach to the United Nations—[Interruption.]
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I called "Order" to stop noise from interrupting the Minister of State, if he still has to finish his reply.
§ Mr. ThomsonThis is first and foremost a matter for the Governments concerned in the area, including the Saudi Arabian Government. If the Saudi Arabian Government make a formal approach to the United Nations, I have already told the House that we welcome what they have done already and would be prepared to consider giving them support.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerSurely the Minister of State has this wrong. The questions are about gas in the Yemen. It may be indirectly in the interests of the Saudis, as it is of ourselves, but surely we should be doing something more about it? Will the Minister of State call for a report from the International Red Cross, which has been in the area for quite a long time? If he does, when he has it will he put it in the Library?
§ Mr. ThomsonWe ourselves have no direct evidence about this matter, because we have no representation in the Republic of the Yemen. We are keeping in close touch with the International Red Cross. That organisation has made a report and has said that it has not been able to establish whether poison gas has been used. However, it has expressed its extreme concern about the alleged use of gas and has asked the participants in the Yemen conflict to respect in every way the established international conventions about this kind of warfare.
§ Mr. Philip Noel-BakerWhile every body must regret the use of poison gas in Saudi Arabia, if it has happened—[Interruption.]—in the Yemen or in Saudi Arabia, if it has happened—allegations of both have been made—can my right hon. Friend say what protests have been made by any members of the Conservative Party about the use of gas in Vietnam, gases which have killed civilians, destroyed forests, destroyed crops—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. We are wide of the Questions on the Order Paper.
§ Lord BalnielThese answers we are getting from the Minister of State are not good enough. Does not he recollect that the Prime Minister himself said not so long ago that there was prima facie evidence that gas had been used? As the United Arab Republic has said that it is willing for an investigation to be made by the United Nations, and in view of the 77 very strong feeling on both sides of the House, may I ask what action the Government are taking to secure the prompt and effective investigation of these allegations by the United Nations?
§ Mr. ThomsonI repeat to the noble Lord that this is primarily a matter for members of the United Nations in the area immediately concerned. If they will take the initiative on this formally, we will consider supporting them.
§ Mr. Will GriffithsIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Government of the United Arab Republic completely deny these allegations and that they have invited, or are to invite, the United Nations to send a fact-finding mission to the Yemen? If that request is made at the United Nations, will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that the British Government will support it?
§ Mr. ThomsonYes, Sir. I have already given that assurance. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House, such reports as we have, which are not based on direct evidence, because that is not available to us, strongly suggest that poison gas has been used.
§ Mr. MartenIf there is any doubt on this question, could the Minister of State explain why the British authorities in Aden produced in front of all the local Press on 17th February a soldier from the Royal Kingdom of Yemen called Muhammed Ali Abdu Khaimi who had been gassed? If there is any doubt, why did the authorities do that? Why are the Government so reluctant to indict Egypt for its vicious imperialism?
§ Mr. ThomsonThere is no reluctance on the part of Her Majesty's Government in any of these matters, but we must limit the matters in which we take the initiative at the United Nations. The Yemeni to whom the hon. Gentleman has referred and who claimed to have been the victim of a gas attack was medically examined. His medical condition was consistent with his story of having been gassed, but there was not conclusive medical evidence that he had in fact been gassed.
§ Mr. MartenIn view of the—
§ Mr. BlakerOn a point of order.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Blaker—point of order.
§ Mr. BlakerOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.