HC Deb 20 November 1967 vol 754 cc897-9
2. Mr. Biffen

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the likelihood of resumed diplomatic relations with the United Arab Republic.

18. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Egypt.

20. Mr. Stratton Mills

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the talks with President Nasser.

32. Mr. Colin Jackson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on his plans for improving Anglo-United Arab Republic relations.

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. George Brown)

As announced yesterday, agreement has been reached to re-establish diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Republic in the first half of December. To this end the two Governments have agreed to proceed very shortly to the exchange of Ambassadors.

Mr. Biffen

Since the national interests of both Britain and the United Arab Republic require normal political stability in the Middle East, will the right hon. Gentleman take this occasion to remind the United Arab Republic of the disruptive consequences of the propaganda broadcast by Radio Cairo?

Mr. Brown

I take the hon. Gentleman's point. I have also taken some trouble recently to have a look at what is being put cut by Radio Cairo. I do not think it bears out what the hon. Member said about the resumption of diplomatic relations.

Mr. Marten

Did the Foreign Secretary discover during the negotiations anything about the extent to which the Russians are currently aiding the Egyptians?

Mr. Brown

I do not see that that is part of the same question. I think there is everything to be said for having direct diplomatic relations and the hon. Gentleman can be quite sure that I keep my eyes open as to what is going on in that area.

Mr. Stratton Mills

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the diplomatic talks included Aden and the South Arabian Federation and an assurance of speedy withdrawal of Egyptian troops from Yemen?

Mr. Brown

I do not think that the latter part of that question is related to this question of the resumption of diplomatic questions, which is quite another matter.

Mr. Jackson

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the resumption of diplomatic relations means there will be a resumption of cultural contacts between the two countries?

Mr. Brown

I would hope it would mean the resumption of full contacts in every way, but the immediate thing, of course, is to get our Ambassadors in each capital, and then we can get closer together on a number of things.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

These Questions have raised a number of matters which we cannot pursue now, although it would be profitable to do so. Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether we could have a debate on this area, including Aden and the resumption of diplomatic relations, and have it early in December perhaps?

Mr. Brown

We will certainly be at the disposal of the House. In the Middle East a number of things are going on, as well as in Aden, to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred, and there are happenings in New York, including the resolutions there. I would certainly be ready to discuss with the Leader of the House whether we can manage a debate.

Mr. Henig

Could my right hon. Friend tell the House whether a condition of acceding to the Egyptian Government's request for establishing diplomatic relations was that they made good any losses of British goods lost in June?

Mr. Brown

There was no question of acceding to their request, but on the subject of sequestrated property and other national interests I can assure my hon. Friend that we have that very much in mind.

Mr. Shinwell

Can the Foreign Secretary say whether on the resumption of diplomatic relations any strings or conditions were attached—for example, about freedom of all maritime nations to have their ships pass through the Suez Canal, etc. Or are we to understand that we are simply resuming diplomatic relations? Because so far our policy in the Middle East has signally failed.

Mr. Brown

We are resuming diplomatic relations. I am happy to say that both the Government and the United Arab Republic believe it would be wiser for us to be in full diplomatic relations rather than not. On the other issue, my right hon. Friend knows as well as I do that discussions are going on in New York apart from the question of the resumption of bilateral relations.

Mr. Mayhew

Is my right hon. Friend aware that he is entitled to warm congratulations on the success of the negotiations? Is he aware that the blind prejudice and vendetta against the Arabs in some parts of the House is not widely shared?