§ 2.39 p.m.
THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERYMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the fact that the Royal Navy has been responsible for the working of Suez Canal traffic for many weeks, all British ships are passing through the Canal unhindered when upon their lawful occasions, and, if not, why not.]
THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE MARQUESS OF READING)My Lords, it is the Suez Canal Company, and not the Royal Navy, which has throughout been responsible for the working of Canal traffic. The Royal Navy, however, has rendered very valuable assistance in mooring and unmooring ships awaiting their turn to pass through the Canal without which it would have been impracticable for the Company to deal efficiently with the normal volume of traffic. All British ships seeking to pass through the Canal have been able to do so.
THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERYMy Lords, I thank the noble Marquess for his answer. I should like to ask whether what he has said means that British tankers, even if they presented themselves to go through the Canal, would be refused.
THE MARQUESS OF READINGMy Lords, what I said was that those ships which had sought passage had, in every case, been given it. No tanker bound for Haifa has, in fact, sought passage during these last months. If the noble and gallant Earl would like me just to add to that, I would say this: the oil companies concerned have been consulted by Her Majesty's Government and they have decided that, at the present moment, it is not desirable that the Government should take any action. Her Majesty's Government agree with that view and, in the circumstances, no special steps are being taken at present
THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERYMy Lords, if I may, I would make a further remark on that answer. If I did not have the high respect for the noble Marquess which in fact I have, should say that his reply was a quibble. The companies have had pressure brought to bear on them so that they are not asking for their tankers to go through. Is it not a Gilbertian situation? Whatever may be said, the Navy has actually done and is doing the work. In the Navy they pray every day—or they used to do—for security for such as pass upon the seas "on their lawful occasions." Here we have a Canal which is an international highway. We have great forces deployed in the area and by international agreement the highway is not subject to blockade in peace or war. Yet, with the British Navy, as I say, doing all the work, British ships are discriminated against and are not allowed to present themselves to pass through.
THE MQARQUESS OF READINGMy Lords, I am sorry if the noble and gallant Earl thought that my answer was a quibble. I thought the answer was not an imprecise one to the Question on the Order Paper. What exactly were the questions latent in the noble and gallant Earl's last remarks, I am not at the moment entirely clear, I do not know the source of his information when he says that pressure has been brought upon the oil companies riot to seek passage for their tankers through the Canal, but that information is not mine.