§ 2.21 p.m.
§ LORD KILLEARNMy 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 they consider that in the terms of Article 8 of the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty of 1936, the Egyptian Army is now in a position to ensure by its own resources the liberty and entire security of the Suez Canal.]
THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN OFFICE (THE MARQUESS OF READING)My Lords, as the noble Lord is very well aware, complex and delicate negotiations are at present proceeding between Her Majesty's Government and the Egyptian Government for a settlement of their differences in regard to the Canal Zone. In those circumstances I am sure that the House will understand if I say that, in the interests of these negotiations I am not prepared at this stage to make public the opinion of Her Majesty's Government on the issue raised in the noble Lord's Question.
§ LORD KILLEARNMy Lords, in thanking the noble Marquess for his reply, which the House will fully understand, may I put to him the following supplementary question: Whether the possibility has been studied of adapting our direct and inherited obligations under the Suez Canal Convention of Constantinople of 1888 into some form of effective—and I emphasise the word "effective"—international guarantee of the free navigation of the canal in time of peace and of war?
THE MARQUESS OF READINGMy Lords, I am afraid that what I said in answer to the noble Lord's original Question must apply with equal force to the supplementary. I think it would be highly undesirable if we were to imperil the progress of these negotiations by discussing these matters at this moment in your Lordships' House.