HC Deb 08 December 1969 vol 793 cc11-3
8. Mr. Marten

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the situation in the Middle East.

The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Evan Luard)

The situation in the Middle East continues to cause us serious concern. There is an urgent need for progress towards a political settlement. I am pleased to say that talks between the representatives at the United Nations of Britain, France, the Soviet Union and the United States of America resumed in New York on 2nd December.

Mr. Marten

is there any sign that the resumed talks by the four Powers will be any more successful than in the past? Can the Minister say what has happened to the farcical situation over ships trapped in the Canal? Has there been any action by the Government on that matter?

Mr. Luard

On the first part of the question, it is much too early to say how successful the resumed set of four-Power talks will he. We have had only two brief meetings so far, but we hope that we will achieve more success and that it may be possible to send Mr. Jarring back to the Middle East to seek a settlement. Regarding the ships in the Canal, there is nothing more to report at the present time.

Mr. Shinwell

In view of the delay by the four-Power conference to reach some conclusion, would it not be more enterprising if they suggested to the Arab States that they should enter into unilateral negotiations with the State of Israel with a view to settlement? Is it not extraordinary that one of the four Powers, the Soviet Union, is sending arms to the Arab States, while another, the United Kingdom, refuses to send arms to the State of Israel?

Mr. Luard

On the first part of that question, it is certainly our hope that these four-Power discussions will reach an early settlement. On the question of direct or indirect negotiations, my right hon. Friend will know that there is an acute difference of view on this matter between the Arab States and Israel. One of the questions which has been discussed by the four Powers in the past, and which no doubt will be discussed again, is whether some kind of compromise may be reached by using Ambassador Jarring as an intermediary.

On the second part of the question, it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to maintain a balance of arms in the region. The fact that the United States is supplying arms to Israel or the Soviet Union to the Arab States does not affect our own policy on this question.

Viscount Lambton

Are we to understand from what the Minister says that the negotiations to relieve the ships have broken down? Is it over 18 months since the right hon. Member for Belper (Mr. George Brown) said that they were to be released almost immediately. What is happening about the question of insurance arising from the deterioration of the ships?

Mr. Luard

It is not true to say that the discussions have broken down, because we are still continuing to make efforts to release the ships, in common with other countries which have ships in a similar situation. We are not omnipotent in this situation. We are still hopeful that we shall be able to make progress.

42. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the four Power talks on the Middle East; when he expects a decision to be reached; and to what extent British proposals have proved acceptable.

Mr. Luard

The four-Power talks resumed on 2nd December. We hope that the four will now make rapid progress in working out fresh guidance for Dr. Jarring. As the talks are confidential, I am afraid I cannot give any information on the subject matter of these discussions.

Mr. Shinwell

Does my hon. Friend need to be something of an intellectual to differentiate between hope and experience? Has he not reached the conclusion now that there is not the slightest hope of the four-Power conference coming to an agreement? But in any event, will he be kind enough to tell the House, and myself in particular, what are the British proposals, because nobody knows what they are?

Mr. Luard

I have already explained in answer to an earlier Question that we certainly do hope that these discussions may lead to four-Power agreement on the new mandate for Dr. Jarring to go to the Middle East to seek a settlement among the parties. As for British proposals, there is not at present a British plan for settlement of the Middle East problem, but, in the light of discussions, we shall consider what proposals we may wish to make to bring about an agreement between the four on a new mandate for Dr. Jarring.

Mr. Marten

Does the fact that it has been referred to the four Powers mean that the two Powers have reached some agreement which they have then referred to the four Powers?

Mr. Luard

These is no substantive agreement yet between the two Powers. As I said earlier, discussions are still continuing and it is our hope that it may be possible for them to bring to the four agreement between themselves on certain aspects of a settlement.