HL Deb 25 June 1957 vol 205 cc128-30

3.50 p.m.

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE EARL OF GOSFORD)

My Lords, I must apologise to your Lordships for once again having to intervene in the middle of a debate, but with your Lordships' permission I will make a statement similar to that being made in another place by my right honourable and learned friend the Foreign Secretary about the situation in Central Oman.

I informed your Lordships on July 23 that discretion had been given to our local military authorities to take certain limited action. Since then, after warning, air action has been taken against military targets. I would remind your Lordships that these are limited operations, but the necessary forces are being placed at the disposal of the local military commanders as they are required.

I should like to take the opportunity of warning your Lordships against giving any credence to the false and misleading information which is being disseminated from Cairo.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

My Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether he can make any statement about the use of ground troops—because an Air Force cannot occupy a country; ground forces are required for that purpose? Is it contemplated that the troops that have been moved from East Africa to, I think, Bahrein, will be employed in Central Oman?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, I regret that I have no information whatsoever at this stage to give the noble Viscount.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

Then, my second and final question is: can the noble Earl say whether he has had any consultation with the State Department in reference to this matter? Last time he spoke most confidently about their being kept well-informed, but some remarks that were reported in the newspapers do not seem to support that view.

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, as I told your Lordships on a previous occasion, we have kept the State Department fully informed of everything that is going on—everything of which we know—and I would advise the noble Viscount not to believe everything that he reads in the newspapers.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, in that case, would it not be as well that Parliament should be informed from time to time by the Government as to what the United States authorities have said to them, so that we may have a little information? Another point that I should like to ask about is whether actual military operations have begun on behalf of the Sultan of Muscat, and whether proper notification has now been given by our Government to the United Nations of the action that they are taking.

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, as to the first part of the noble Viscount's question. I will certainly bring his suggestion to the notice of my right honourable and learned friend. As I said, I think the day before yesterday, we have not, in fact, informed the United Nations, as in this case there is no necessity to do so.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

What does the noble Earl mean by "no necessity"? Troops are in action. It is likely that ground troops will be soon in action. There is evident discord between our-selves and the State Department. What does the noble Earl mean by saying that there is no need to brine the matter to the notice of the United Nations?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, this is an internal affair relating to the Sultan of Muscat. The fact that he has appealed to us for help does not, in our view, oblige us to inform the United Nations.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

It is most interesting, in view of the debate we are having, to have that piece of information—that the Government do not think it necessary to inform the United Nations of the action they are taking inside another independent State. That is rather important. Perhaps it will affect the course of the debate we are having to-day. I hope that the noble Earl will continue to give us all the information he possibly can on this matter before the House rises.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

My Lords, how will the Government get into touch with the other parties concerned—namely, King Saud and his friends, whoever they are—except through some such agency as the United Nations?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

It is surely up to the Sultan, if it is up to anybody, to inform the United Nations.

VISCOUNT STANSGATE

Is Muscat a member?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

No, but the Sultan can still inform the United Nations.