EGYPT AND THE SUDAN

HL Deb 20 February 1958 vol 207 cc906-8

5.30 p.m.

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, I told your Lordships yesterday that I hoped to be in a position to-day to make a statement about the dispute which has arisen between Egypt and the Sudan over certain areas lying to the north of the 22nd Parallel.

An appeal has been made by the Sudanese Government to the Security Council, and, of course, we must not attempt to prejudge the outcome of that procedure. But these areas have been administered by the Sudan since the very early days of the Condominium, in fact for more than half a century. So far as I know, this arrangement has worked entirely satisfactorily and has never aroused any protest or complaint from Egypt. Indeed, the inhabitants of these areas voted in the Sudan elections in November, 1953, and these elections took place under the supervision of an electoral Commission which included members from Egypt as well as the United Kingdom.

As the Sudanese Deputy Prime Minister has said, whatever the rights and wrongs of the claim to the territory may be, what the Sudan Government really objects to is the timing and manner of the Egyptian claim. This, he said, was a question which obviously needed study and careful consideration, based not only on documents but also on ethnographical grounds. I think that there is much force in this view. It is a matter which should be settled calmly, by negotiation; and the settlement should take account of the rights of both countries and of the inhabitants of the areas in question.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, I am sure the House will be grateful to the noble Earl for the statement he has made. There have been such conflicting Press reports in the last few days that I thought it advisable to raise the question and, if possible, to have Parliament informed. I must say that I entirely agree with, and support, the action taken by the Sudanese Government in seeking to get this dispute settled through the United Nations. I hope that nothing will be said on either side to inflame the position in any way and that a successful outcome will result from this submission to the United Nations.

House adjourned during pleasure.

House resumed.