HL Deb 07 February 1967 vol 279 cc1237-9

2.35 p.m.

THE EARL OF SELKIRK

My Lords, I beg leave 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 have been able to confirm the use of lethal gas in the war in Yemen, and whether they propose to take any further action.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)

My Lords, as the Prime Minister said in another place on January 31, such reports as we have strongly suggest that poison gas has been used. I understand that the Saudi Arabian Government have asked the Secretary-General of the United Nations to intervene to prevent a recurrence of the use of poison gas; and the United Arab Republic Government have stated that they are willing to agree to an investigation by the United Nations. Her Majesty's Government welcome these moves by two of the countries principally concerned for action by the United Nations.

THE EARL OF SELKIRK

My Lords, may I thank the noble Lord for his Answer? I wonder whether he is able to confirm reports which have been current about the attack on Kitaf which was said to have been conducted by nine Ilyushin aircraft and which wiped out the population of men, women and children and the animals in the area, and left very small bomb marks and no injuries on the bodies concerned? If the noble Lord can confirm or deny that, I shall be grateful.

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have no direct evidence that gas has been used, since, of course, we have no representation in the Yemen. As I said in my earlier Answer to the noble Earl's Question, such reports as we have strongly suggest that gas was used, but we have no direct evidence and therefore can neither confirm nor deny these reports.

LORD ALPORT

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord when he anticipates that the United Nations investigation will start, and whether Her Majesty's Government have given full support to the representations made to the Secretary-General that this investigation should be carried out as quickly as possible before the evidence is destroyed or lost?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, at the moment the Saudi Arabian Government have raised this question with the Secretary-General in only the most informal way. If the Government of Saudi Arabia should raise the matter with the United Nations in a formal manner, then Her Majesty's Government will naturally consider supporting it, but I think that this would be an inappropriate case in which Her Majesty's Government should take any lead.

LORD SALTOUN

My Lords, may I ask whether there was any indication of what gas had been used?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, as I have said, we have no direct evidence that gas has been used, and it would follow from that that we cannot possibly comment on what type of gas may have been used.

LORD CARRINGTON

My Lords, may I ask whether it is not true that a number of journalists were asked to see the site of this bombing incident? Some were British journalists. May I ask whether the Government have inquired of these journalists what their reports were?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, investigations into the whole of this incident are going on. We are considering all the evidence, including that of reputable journalists on the spot at the time. I think that the view of Her Majesty's Government, as a result of weighing all this evidence, is contained in my original reply. All the reports that we have strongly suggest that gas was used.

LORD ST. HELENS

My Lords, may I ask whether special precautions have been taken with regard to our troops in Aden, such as the issue of gas masks?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, that is an entirely different question. If the noble Lord will put it down, I will get an answer to it.

Back to