§ 28. Mr. Tim Rentonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with EEC Ministers regarding the Middle East situation.
Mr. James CallaghanI would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Minister of State gave to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Brighouse and Spenborough (Mr. Jackson) on 30th July.—[Vol. 896, c. 493.]
§ Mr. RentonDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that one of the steps that should be taken by Israel is for her to withdraw to the east of the Sinai passes? Is the Foreign Secretary aware of the remarks attributed to King Hussein yesterday, to the effect that another Middle Eastern war was inevitable unless urgent steps were taken? Does he see any chance of the EEC countries working out together what those urgent steps should be?
Mr. CallaghanThe degree of withdrawal by Israel is one of the delicate matters now being negotiated between the parties, with the intermediation of the United States. I do not think that it would be helpful for me to express an opinion on what should be the position of the United States at the end of the negotiations. As for the prospect of another war, I believe that the prospect of failure to reach an interim agreement in August could have a shattering impact on the Middle East.
On the subject of EEC involvement, we constantly discuss the question whether the EEC Foreign Ministers should take an initiative, and we keep in close contact with the United States, as well as with Israel, Egypt and other confrontation States on this matter. So far, our joint opinion is that it would not be fruitful for the EEC itself to take a political initiative.
Mr. R. C. MitchellIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is at present a strong Israeli-inspired campaign to sabotage the Euro-Arab dialogue, and that a recent resolution at the European Parliament, which we managed to water down considerably, was part of that campaign?
Mr. CallaghanThe Community recently reached an agreement with Israel, and the Euro-Arab dialogue in some ways is a counterpart to that. The talks had a successful beginning on 22nd and 24th July, but it is not our intention—I hope that it is nobody else's—that the dialogue should be used to debate issues in the Arab-Israeli conflict. The purpose of the dialogue is economic, although its very existence is an important political fact.
§ Mr. ChurchillEven if a settlement is achieved, as we hope it will be in the coming weeks or months, the whole of the efforts of the British Government and of other interested parties could be brought to naught by the sheer weight and volume of military hardware which has been flowing and continues to flow into this potential area of conflict. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the ratio of arms into the area has exceeded two-to-one from the Soviet Union to the Arab neighbours of the Israelis, compared with anything coming from the United States in recent months?
Mr. CallaghanThere is a very great flow of arms into the Middle East. That is one of the most disquieting features of the situation; indeed, I have discussed that matter with my colleagues and with others. If I thought that there was a chance of obtaining agreement on the subject I should jump at it, irrespective of the consequences to work here, or anything else. However, it would involve the Soviet Union as well as the United States. I think that the parties in the Middle East themselves are not yet clear whether they would support it. Therefore, I fear that there is no prospect of such a move at present, but it is a matter at which we must constantly work if we see the faintest chance of success.
Mrs. MillerIs my right hon. Friend aware that hopes of peace in the Middle East are sadly jeopardised by the behaviour of the Arab States in the Third World grouping at the United Nations, particularly in the organisations which until the present time have not been the subject of political dispute? Will he take steps to ensure that, so far as the matter lies within the power of the British Government, the politicising of the United Nations agencies, which until now have carried out wonderful universalist work, will not be allowed to continue?
Mr. CallaghanI entirely agree with my hon. Friend. I would not have been able to express the matter as well as she has done. Where we control the voting in these institutions it is my standing practice to prevent the politicising of those bodies, but, alas, we are not always free to do so because often nongovernmental representatives attend.