HL Deb 14 March 1968 vol 290 cc359-61

3.14 p.m.

LORD SEGAL

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 any report is to be made by Mr. Gunnar Jarring on his mission to the Middle East, and when this report is likely to be issued.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)

My Lords, the Security Council resolution on the Middle East of November 22, under which the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the area, Mr. Jarring, was appointed, requested the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council on the progress of the efforts of the Special Representative as soon as possible". The Secretary-General issued an interim report on January 17, and a copy of that report is in the Library of the House. It will, of course, be for him to decide, in consultation with the Special Representative, on the right moment to issue a further report on Mr. Jarring's Mission.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, I should like to thank my noble friend for that reply. Would he not agree that Mr. Jarring has already rendered notable service to the United Nations and to the cause of peace by undertaking this mission and by his persistent efforts at mediation, and especially by securing the repatriation of over 4,000 Egyptian prisoners of war?

LORD CHALFONT

Yes, my Lords, I would agree with my noble friend that Mr. Jarring has already rendered notable service to the cause of peace in the Middle East. We must remember, after all, that the problems he is wrestling with have eluded solution for twenty years, and I do not think that any of us would have expected him to settle them overnight. But I think he has made considerable and praiseworthy progress.

THE EARL OF DUNDEE

My Lords, since we have been told that United Nations action on the refugee problem must await the publication of Mr. Jarring's report, and since the problem is becoming more acute, would Her Majesty's Government ask the Secretary-General to expedite publication of Mr. Jarring's report, which might help us all to see what ought to be done?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, we certainly keep in touch with the Secretary-General about this problem, which we appreciate is extremely urgent. But it is, I think, for the Secretary-General to decide when this report shall be issued. As I said, the problems in the Middle East are multifarious and extremely complicated. I do not think it would be in our interests, or in the interests of the people in the area, to press too hard on this at the moment. But I will certainly bear in mind what the noble Earl said.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, would Her Majesty's Government not urge upon the Secretary-General that solution of the refugeee problem ought not to be deferred until the issuing of this report, especially since this report is likely, when it is issued, only to rekindle existing animosities which were better left to subside?

LORD CHALFONT

My Lords, we are, of course, in touch with everybody concerned in this problem—the Arab countries, Israel and United Nations—and I think at the moment we must leave it to Mr. Jarring to decide how best progress can be made towards a settlement in the Middle East. I think there is nothing worse than, having given a man a task to do, constantly from day to day telling him how to do it. I think we ought to be patient for a while and see what kind of report he makes. But I assure my noble friend that we are in constant contact with everybody concerned in this dispute, especially about the refugee problem.