§ 3.0 p.m.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what their reaction is to the recent proposal, put forward by France, for a meeting of the Permanent Representatives of the Four Powers (the United States of America, France, Great Britain and the U.S.S.R.) within the United Nations to discuss ways of establishing a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD SHEPHERD)My Lords, we welcome any move which might contribute to the achievement of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. We are giving the French proposal careful consideration, and we are in touch with the other Governments concerned.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply, may I ask him this supplementary question? As the Russian and French proposals allow for the stationing of international troops in the area, would Her Majesty's Government consider that this might be a good basis for starting discussions with a view to positioning them at places of military confrontation?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, as I said in my original Answer, we are giving all these proposals very careful attention and we are in consultation with other Governments. I do not think I should be asked to comment on that particular aspect.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord to comment, then, on something else? Would he be willing to comment on what would now appear to be Egypt's new two-pronged approach to this problem, the first prong of which is concerned with the occupation of Arab territories by Israel, to be subjected to the provisions of the November, 1967, Security Council resolution, and the second of which is concerned with the grouping of the four Palestinian Resistance Movements, and not to be affected by that resolution?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, there are a number of proposals, and the noble Lord will be well aware that Dr. Jarring has been in close contact with the various Governments concerned in this unhappy dispute. There are a number of factors which have to be borne in mind, and I hope the noble Lord will accept that, at this very delicate stage of seeing whether negotiations can be started, perhaps the less said the better.
THE EARL OF GOWRIEMy Lords, will Her Majesty's Government recognise, in all their discussions with other Powers on this question, whensoever they may occur, that Great Britain bears especial responsibility for the original creation of the Kingdom of Jordan, which is shorn now of its most economically viable territory? Will the Government also recognise that King Hussein's friendliness towards the West, many rebuffs and frustrations notwithstanding, still offers a slim chance for the Western Powers to protect themselves against Russian interest and ambitions in the Mediterranean and Near East? Finally, this being acknowledged, will Her Majesty's Government examine with great care and responsibility King Hussein's own suggestion of the creation of a Palestine independent of but co-operating with his own régime, a suggestion which surely offers—
SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS: Order, Order!
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (LORD SHACKLETON)My Lords, I think that the next Question had actually been called. I think the noble Earl is stretching the patience of the House a little. Perhaps he can conclude his question.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I would say to the noble Earl that obviously Her Majesty's Government have an interest and responsibility in that part of the 1025 world, but clearly the help and assistance of many other countries will be needed—and there are other countries involved, apart from Jordan. But these are all matters which will have to be borne in mind if and when negotiations commence.