§ 60. Mr. de Chairasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of our intimate treaty relations with the Kingdoms of Iraq and Jordan, he will open negotiations, apart from 87W our mutual treaty obligations, about the closing of the Haifa oil pipeline and the consequent immobilisation of the refineries in view of the fact that this is one of the principal causes of the continued rationing of petrol in Great Britain which should not indefinitely be prejudiced by the wider issues between the Arab States and Israel.
Mr. DaviesRepresentations on this subject have repeatedly been made to the Government of Iraq and all other governments concerned. They are well aware of His Majesty's Government's desire to reopen the pipeline to Haifa but feeling in these countries is very strong and they have not so far been able to agree. The governments concerned are, of course, those of independent and sovereign states who take their own decisions in these matters. At the same time, we shall take every suitable opportunity to press our point of view upon them. 'The question of the rationing of petrol in this country is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Fuel and Power.