§ LORD SHINWELLMy 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 request has come from any of the parties concerned actively in the Middle East conflict that British forces should take part in a peace-keeping force.
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, the composition of the peace-keeping force which in our view will be needed to guarantee a Middle East settlement will be a matter for the negotiations which have yet to begin. It would be premature for the parties to solicit participation in such a force, when the basic principles have yet to be considered.
§ LORD SHINWELLMy Lords, is that not an astonishing reply? Is it not rather strange that Egypt has not requested Her Majesty's Government to provide a contribution to the peace-keeping force, in view of the repeated statements by his right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary of Her Majesty's Government's anxiety to make a contribution? Have we annoyed the Egyptians in some fashion? If so, what is the trouble?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, the only way in which we can effectively contribute to such a force is if we are asked to do so, and it is the desire of Her Majesty's Government to play their full part in such a force if they are requested.
§ LORD SHINWELLMy Lords, does the noble Earl understand that I fully agree with him about that? But can he explain why it is that his right honourable friend on more than one occasion (I have read about it in the newspapers) 1056 has almost fallen over backwards in his desire to inform Egypt, and presumably those associated with Egypt, of Her Majesty's Government's anxiety, the anxiety of this country, to make a contribution; and yet there has been no reaction? Surely there must be something wrong.
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, as the noble Lord, Lord Shinwell, knows, it is a long-term business to set up a peace-keeping force in that area, and consultations and discussions have yet to start. I suggest to the noble Lord that it would be premature for any country to say that they would be part of a force if in fact the force has not been discussed or decided upon by the countries mainly interested.
§ LORD BLYTONMy Lords, is the Minister aware that as Britain is not persona grata with Israel, in the light of that fact they will not tolerate British troops in any peace-keeping force in the Middle East?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, I suggest to the noble Lord, Lord Blyton, that that is a slightly premature speculation. We must wait to see which way events go. All I would refer the noble Lord to is the fact that if called upon to take part in such a force, we shall be happy to do so.
§ LORD WADEMy Lords, is it not a fact that it is for the United Nations to decide upon who should be called upon to take art in a peace-keeping force?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, that may be so; but first of all you have to get the consultations started. Everyone is at the moment engaged on this very point; that is, who should take part in these consultations. I suggest that it is quite impossible to decide who should be part of a force until you have had discussions to consider the possibilities of such a force.
§ LORD WIGGMy Lords, is it not a fact that the Foreign Secretary has learned by experience that his broadcasts and his actions following the Suez debacle have shown that it is necessary for this country to be on terms of at least understanding with the Islamic countries, including Egypt; and, having learned his lesson, he realises now where the interest 1057 of this country really lies and, despite what is being said, is following that policy out, certainly with my wholehearted support?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, it is the undoubted desire of my right honourable friend to see that, above all, peace comes to that part of the world. We recognise that there are many different factions, some of them it sometimes seems almost irreconcilable. It is in order to try to reconcile these different factions that my right honourable friend is carrying out this policy.
§ LORD SHINWELLMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that, astonished as I am that Egypt has made no request for Her Majesty's Government to make a contribution, I am even more astonished—and I should like his comment about this—at the statement made by my noble friend Lord Wigg?
EARL FERRERSMy Lords, I am astonished at the fact that the two noble Lords are taking totally opposing views. It merely brings into sharp relief the problem which my noble friend has in trying to steer a straight course.
§ LORD SLATERMy Lords, can the noble Earl say what intimation Her Majesty's Government have been given that they will be invited to take part in any consultations that take place?