§ Q10. Mr. G. Campbellasked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about his discussions with other heads of Governments on the situation in the Middle East.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 15th June. As to my talks with the President of France, I will be answering Questions on them at the end of Question Time today. —[Vol. 748, c. 127.]
§ Mr. CampbellCan the Prime Minister now impart any information about progress towards opening the Suez Canal, because Government spokesmen have 1417 shown an extraordinary inability to give information to the House on this subject?
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend told the House at the end of last week, but as soon as it is possible to hear from the Foreign Secretary, who is at the United Nations now, I will of course see that the necessary information is given to the House.
§ Mr. Francis Noel-BakerIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is very widespread disappointment that he did not take this opportunity of going to the Special Assembly of the United Nations and of helping to turn it into a super-summit and that that disappointment will have been increased by his earlier reply this afternoon, which seemed to imply that he had written off the U.N. and preferred four-Power negotiations?
§ The Prime MinisterI certainly have not written off the U.N. in any sense. I believe the present situation in the U.N. will be very overheated and does not provide at this moment—I should not like to forecast at this moment what might happen in a day or two or a week or two—the most favourable situation in which a four-Power or X-Power summit under the aegis of the United Nations could best be held, but at the right moment, of course, I would take a different view.
§ Sir G. NabarroArising from the blockage of the Suez Canal, will the Prime Minister tell the House what action he proposes to take about the threatened rise of a penny per gallon in the price of petrol and the longer-term prospect of petrol having to be rationed because of the continued blockage?
§ The Prime MinisterI have nothing to add to what the House has already been told about the petrol situation. The main problem arising, both with regard to the cost of petrol and the possible availability, relates not so much to the closure of the Suez Canal, grave and intolerable though that is. It arises from the interference with the flow of oil from oil-producing countries. I do not believe we shall get that oil flowing again quickly either by tough action, which I think the hon. Gentleman wants, or even by tough talk of the kind he was treating us to.
§ Mr. MolloyWill my right hon. Friend, despite other advice which has been given to him, assure the House that he will accept the principle that he will be prepared to talk and to encourage talks on this grievous problem of the Middle East based on the simple thesis that "jaw jaw is better than war war"?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir, as soon as I am satisfied that the jaw in question will be constructive and not merely, as I think it might be for the moment, a series of speeches taking sides within the United Nations. I think we have to proceed from this stage of acrimony and bitterness there to a situation where constructive talks could be held.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.