HL Deb 02 November 1967 vol 286 cc150-3

3.18 p.m.

LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper. May I direct attention to a small misprint? The words which appear, "seized property of British nations" should read, "seized property of British nationals".

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ensure that any resumption of diplomatic relations with Egypt shall carry with this resumption an undertaking by Egypt to restore seized property of British nationals and proper compensation for losses incurred.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have very much in mind the interests both of the British subjects who have had property nationalised in the United Arab Republic and of those whose property has been sequestrated. The House will be aware that over the years we have carried out a series of complicated negotiations on these matters with the United Arab Republic authorities. Several matters still remain for negotiation, and this would be much facilitated by a resumption of diplomatic relations.

LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYE

My Lords, is the Minister aware that I was not referring to the previous settlement some years past, but to British nationals who have had their property and money seized during the recent troubles with Egypt?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I am afraid I know, and the Foreign Office knows, of no British property which has been seized by the authorities in Egypt during the events in June.

LORD BLYTON

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that I hope we do not bend over backwards to appease Nasser and get the worst of both worlds in the Middle East?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, while I take the point of what my noble friend has said, I think nothing could be lost, and a good deal gained, by resuming proper relations with one of the most influential Arab States. I do not see how it can be in the interests of ourselves or of our friends that we should be denied regular access to this Government.

LORD CONESFORD

My Lords, can the Minister say whether the request to resume diplomatic relations was made by Her Majesty's Government, or by Egypt?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I think it would be unwise to go too deeply into the question of who actually made the approaches. I am sure your Lordships will recall that in August and September we were receiving indications from the United Arab Republic that they wanted to get on better terms with us, and there was an article in the Sunday Times by the Editor of the very influential Egyptian newspaper El Ahram. He wrote then that in his view it was time the dialogue began. I think it would have been very inconsistent and unwise of us to have ignored that indication.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, quite apart from the matter of the resumption of diplomatic relations, may I ask whether my noble friend is aware that this problem has now been dragging on for over ten years, and that the hardships to many British nationals have increased with each successive year? Would he urge on his right honourable friend that a final settlement should first be reached before any question of financial assistance is negotiated with the Egyptian Government.

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, of course I shall take note of what my noble friend has said, but I think that we shall be in a much better position to solve this and all the other problems with the United Arab Republic if we resume normal diplomatic relations with them.

LORD BYLTON

My Lords, in view of the fact that Nasser has the full backing of Russia, does my noble friend not think that, in the light of international events, we ought to take care where we travel as a nation?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I think that we must be very careful where we travel on any issue, but it is my view, and that of the Foreign Office and of Her Majesty's Government, that it cannot possibly be in our interest to be denied diplomatic relations with and regular access to any Government, and particularly with one of the most influential Governments of the Middle East.

LORD ILFORD

My Lords, will the noble Lord say whether the compensation awarded to British nationals expelled from Egypt in 1956 has been met in full by the Egyptian Government?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, I have not that information with me, but I can find out and let the noble Lord know. We still reserve our right to claim compensation for any damage which has been done either in the past or during the recent events. But so far as the specific question is concerned, I will get the information and let the noble Lord have it.

LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYE

My Lords, will the Minister bear in mind that his optimistic hope that things will be better as regards prospects of compensation once we have resumed diplomatic relations is not borne out by the history of previous years?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, this may be the view of the noble Lord. I can only say that I think bilateral relations with any country are made much better when we are in normal diplomatic relations.