HC Deb 25 June 1956 vol 555 cc5-6W
61. Mr. J. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations regarding the expulsion of the desert locust team from Jiddah by the Saudi-Arabian Government.

Lord John Hope

On 7th April Her Majesty's representative in Jedda was asked by the Saudi Arabian Government to withdraw the British Desert Locust Team. On 12th April Her Majesty's Ambassador in Rome was instructed to ask the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations to represent to the Saudi Arabian Government that the British team was a unit in an international campaign, and that its withdrawal might seriously affect the continuity and effectiveness of this campaign.

I understand that the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations did communicate to this effect with the Saudi Arabian Government, but I have no information that it received any reply to this representation.

The Acting Director of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has also expressed to Her Majesty's Government his appreciation of the major part played in the past by the British team and his regret that the Saudi Arabian Government has asked for its withdrawal.