§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy 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 will confirm that it is their policy in the Middle East to ensure free passage through the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Aqaba, on which there are international rights of such passage; and to obtain mutual guarantees for an abstention from belligerent acts on the Israeli-Egyptian frontier as an essential counterpart to any pressure on Israel to complete the withdrawal of her forces.]
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, I can confirm that it is the Government's policy to ensure free passage through the Suez Canal. Your Lordships will recall that in its resolution of October 13, 1956, the Security Council agreed that any settlement of the Suez question should meet the requirement, amongst others, that there should be free and open transit through the Canal without discrimination overt or covert. This covered both political and technical aspects. I can also confirm that it is the Government's policy to ensure general recognition of the right of free passage through the Straits of Titan. In the Government's view, these Straits are an international waterway through which vessels of the States bordering on the Gulf of Aqaba are entitled to free passage.
The Prime Minister stated in another place on February 25, that we believed that, coupled with Israel's withdrawal, it should be made clear beyond doubt both by the United Nations and by leading maritime countries that they regard access to the waters of the Gulf of Aqaba as free to the world.
In answer to the last part of the noble Lord's question, it is the Government's view that, following on Israel's withdrawal, there should be a return to the Armistice régime, with the corollary that claims to any belligerent rights should not be asserted by either side. This point 122 was covered in paragraph 3 of the second resolution adopted by the General Assembly on February 2, for which the Government voted.
§ THE EARL OF DUNDEEMy Lords, may I ask whether the Government have fresh reason to believe that either Russia or Colonel Nasser have abandoned their joint design to gain control of the Middle East by promoting an Arab attack against Israel? And will not this design be immediately resurrected if Israel is now prevailed upon to withdraw and if Israeli troops are not replaced by much stronger international forces than those which appear to be available at present?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, I can assure the noble Earl that the Government have the possibilities mentioned by him very much in mind.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, we are glad of the nature of the Answer given to the noble Earl, Lord Dundee. I think the two assurances which have been given as to what are the bases of Government policy, both with regard to the Canal and the Gulf of Aqaba, are encouraging. On the other hand, we should like to know, if it is convenient to the noble Earl, Lord Gosford, to tell us, how far conversations have been going on with the United States of America with regard to their announcement concerning the Gulf of Aqaba, in particular. I hope the general sense of what the noble Earl has said already this afternoon will be strongly pressed.
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Viscount for his remarks, but I regret that at the moment I am unable to satisfy his request.