HC Deb 20 November 1967 vol 754 cc910-1
14. Mr. Hamling

aked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations have been received by his Department about the use of Soviet equipment in air-raids by Egyptian forces in the Yemen using gas against civilians; and what reply he has sent.

Mr. George Brown

None, Sir.

Mr. Hamling

Is that not surprising in view of the recent exchanges in this House about Vietnam? Are we applying double standards on some of these ventures? [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."]

Mr. Brown

The question, if I got it right, refers to the Yemen.

Mr. Hamling

Yes.

Mr. Brown

I am asked, what representations have been received by my Department about the use of Soviet equipment in air raids by Egyptian forces in the Yemen using gas against civilians?

The answer is, "None, Sir."

Mr. Biggs-Davison

Is it not the case that gas was used against the Yemeni civil population by Egyptian forces using Soviet aircraft? Was not the almost total indifference of Her Majesty's Government, other Governments, and the United Nations, totally disgraceful? What kind of example was that, because other countries might be encouraged to do the same thing?

Mr. Brown

The hon. Gentleman is wrong. We are not indifferent. On the contrary, we took action. We called on other people and sought help everywhere else. In fact no gas has been used since July, we deplored it at the time and we tried to organise action against it. There is no ground whatever for that baseless accusation against us.

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