§ 4.48 p.m.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS (THE EARL OF HOME)My Lords, with the permission of the House, I will intervene at this moment to make a statement which my right honourable friend the Prime Minister is now making in another place. As the House will know, for some time past the tension on the frontiers of Israel has been increasing. The growing military strength of Egypt has given rise to renewed apprehension, which the statements and actions of the Egyptian Government have further aggravated. The establishment of a Joint Military Command between Egypt, Jordan and Syria, the renewed raids by guerillas, culminating in the incursion of Egyptian commandos on Sunday night, had all produced a very dangerous situation.
Five days ago, news was received that the Israel Government were taking certain measures of mobilisation. Her Majesty's Government at once instructed Her Majesty's Ambassador at Tel Aviv to make inquiries of the Israel Minister for Foreign Affairs and to urge restraint. Meanwhile, President Eisenhower called for an immediate tripartite discussion between representatives of the United Kingdom, France and the United States. A meeting was held on October 28 in Washington, and a second meeting took place on October 29.
While these discussions were proceeding, news was received last night that Israel forces had crossed the frontier and had penetrated deep into Egyptian territory. Later, further reports were received indicating that paratroops had been dropped. It appeared that the Israel spearhead was not far from the banks of the Suez Canal. From recent reports it 1161 also appeared that air forces are in action in the neighbourhood of the Canal.
During the last few weeks Her Majesty's Government have thought it their duty, having regard to their obligations under the Anglo-Jordan Treaty, to give assurances, both public and private, of their intention to honour these obligations. Her Majesty's Ambassador in Tel Aviv yesterday received an assurance that Israel would not attack Jordan.
My right honourable and learned friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the situation with the United States Ambassador early this morning. The French Prime Minister and Foreign Minister have come over to London at short notice, at the invitation of Her Majesty's Government, to deliberate with us on these events.
I must tell the House that very grave issues are at stake and, unless hostilities can quickly be stopped, free passage through the Canal will he jeopardised Moreover, any fighting on the banks of the Canal would endanger the ships actually on passage. The number of crews and passengers involved totals many hundreds, and the value of the ships which are likely to be on passage to-clay is about £50 million, excluding the value of the cargoes. Her Majesty's Government and the French Government have accordingly agreed that everything possible should be done to bring hostilities to an end as soon as possible. Their representatives in New York have therefore been instructed to join the United States representative in seeking an immediate meeting of the Security Council. This began at 4 p.m.
In the meantime, as a result of the consultations held in London this morning, the United Kingdom and French Governments have addressed urgent communications to the Governments of Egypt and Israel. In these we have called upon both sides to stop all warlike action by land, sea and air forthwith and to withdraw their military forces to a distance of ten miles from the Canal. Further, in order to separate the belligerents and to guarantee freedom of transit through the Canal by the ships of all nations we have asked the Egyptian Government to agree that Anglo-French forces should move temporarily into key positions at Port Said, Ismailia and Suez. The Governments of Egypt and Israel have been 1162 asked to answer this communication within twelve hours. It has been made clear to them that if, at the expiration of that time, one or both have not undertaken to comply with these requirements, British and French forces will intervene in whatever strength may be necessary to secure compliance. I will continue to keep the House informed of the situation as it develops.
§ 4.52 p.m.
§ LORD SILKINMy Lords, this is obviously a very grave statement indeed and one on which it would be, I think, unwise on the part of any of us to comment at such short notice. We appreciate that the situation is in a state of constant change and that the position may look very different to-morrow. In those circumstances, I take it that the noble Earl, as he has indicated, will make a further statement. I imagine that if really grave action has to be taken, Parliament will wish to discuss the matter. In that case, no doubt, arrangements could be made through the usual channels.
THE EARL OF HOMEMy Lords, I am obliged to the noble Lord. I think the situation is so fluid, as he says, that it might be well to wait and see whether I can make a further statement to-morrow, which I shall certainly do if it is at all possible to do so. In those circumstances, we can consider afresh whether it might be necessary to alter our Business on Thursday in any way to meet the convenience of the House
LORD REAMy Lords, I have nothing to add except that your Lordships have heard from the two major Parties and I think it would be the wish of all your Lordships that in this situation, which the noble Earl has described properly as "very grave indeed", it would be most unwise to press the matter further.
§ THE EARL OF SWINTONMy Lords, I entirely agree with what has been said from both quarters of the House. There is, however. one thing upon which I was not quite clear and which perhaps the Deputy Leader of the House could elucidate. It is this "twelve hours" to which he referred for the moving in of British and French troops. Could the noble Earl tell us exactly what the timetable is and as at what date those troops might move in?
THE EARL OF HOMEI am afraid I have not that information. I have only just received this statement from another place.
§ THE EARL OF SWINTONI quite understand.
THE EARL OF HOMEI have not the actual time-table with me. If it will help the noble Earl, I will discover that and perhaps in a short intervention give the House the information.
§ THE EARL OF SWINTONI was not criticising in any way. It is just a question of keeping the House informed of whether something would have happened before the House met to-morrow. I take it that is not so.
§ THE EARL OF SWINTONAs I understood the statement, a Note has been delivered to both the Egyptian and Israeli Governments and an answer has been requested within twelve hours, and, in default of a satisfactory answer from either or both, one or the other—I was not quite clear which—then we and the French Government hold ourselves at liberty to take certain action. It is only that it is very important to know just when these critical hours expire.
§ LORD SILKINBefore the noble Earl answers, is it not a fact that the Governments of Egypt and Israel have already been asked to answer within twelve hours?
§ THE EARL OF SWINTONYes, that is so.
§ LORD SILKINSo the twelve hours will expire at the latest some time in the early morning. Then, I take it from the answer, both Governments, British and French, will feel themselves free, if the answer is unsatisfactory, to take immediate action. Am I right? Is that the purport of the statement?
THE EARL OF HOMEYes, that is correct; but I think I will read the words from the statement again:
The Governments of Egypt and Israel have been asked to answer this communication within twelve hours. It has been made clear to them that if, at the expiration of that time, one or both have not undertaken to comply with these requirements, British and French forces will intervene in whatever strength may be necessary to secure compliance.1164 So, after the twelve hours, it would be for the British and French Governments, if there were an unsatisfactory answer from either, to decide on what strength might be necessary to be used to achieve the objects. But that twelve hours will expire, of course, before the House meets again to-morrow.
§ THE EARL OF SWINTONYes.
THE EARL OF HOMEI cannot exactly say the hour, but I will discover that for your Lordships. It has been asked for.