HC Deb 23 June 1969 vol 785 cc971-2
1. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the four-Power talks on the Middle East.

32. Mr. Walters

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the four-Power conference on the Middle East.

37. Mr. Judd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the latest developments in the four-Power talks on the Middle East.

38. Mr. Goodhart

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the progress of the four-Power talks on the Middle East.

43. Sir T. Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress made in recent discussions with the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and France regarding a settlement of the Arab-Israel dispute.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Michael Stewart)

I have nothing to add to the Answer which my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Leicester, North-West (Sir B. Janner), on 16th June.—[Vol. 784, c. 28–34.]

Mr. Hooley

Does my right hon. Friend agree that a state of war again exists in the Middle East? In view of that, will he endeavour to inject a sense of urgency into these rather leisurely talks? Does he further agree that there is little prospect of stability while one member State of the United Nations continues to occupy the territories of three other member States?

Mr. Stewart

We are well aware of the urgency of this. However, the second part of my hon. Friend's question, although concentrating on one real aspect of the problem, has not put it in proportion with all the other matters which have to be considered.

Mr. Judd

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is widespread respect both in this country and abroad for the objectivity of Her Majesty's Government's policy on that issue? Is he further aware of the view frequently repeated that a solution can be found only if it enjoys the support of all the parties to the dispute?

Mr. Stewart

I firmly believe that to be so, and Her Majesty's Government were able to be helpful in the earlier discussions. I hope that the opportunity will arise again.

Mr. Goodhart

As reports from Cairo suggest that the Egyptian-Soviet stand would make it difficult to make progress in the four-Power talks, what action is the right hon. Gentleman taking to stimulate direct talks between Israel and her Arab neighbours?

Mr. Stewart

I have said in earlier debates that the failure to agree to direct talks was very difficult for people in this country to understand. I think that we have to accept that it is not easy—indeed perhaps it is impossible—to get them at present, and we must try to make progress through the four-Power talks.

Mr. Wood

Is the right hon. Gentleman in a position to say anything about the recent visit of Mr. Gromyko to Egypt?

Mr. Stewart

Not without notice.