§ 65. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will take steps to withdraw British troops and supplies from the Middle East and liquidate British bases there and if he will seek to initiate discussions with the United States of America, the Union of 165W Soviet Socialist Republics and France, together with the Arab States, for the abandonment of all foreign Power commitments in the Middle East, and the initiation of foreign commercial interests for the purchase of oil and the supply of non-military goods.
§ Mr. George BrownSuch steps are already in hand in the case of Aden. As regards the second part of the Question we have a number of commitments in the Middle East which cannot be abandoned overnight. Subject to this, we have taken an active part in discussions of the kind alluded to, with as many governments as possible, including those mentioned by my hon. Friend.
§ 73. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest action taken by Her Majesty's Government to assist in dealing with the refugee situation in the Middle East.
§ Mr. William RodgersOn 26th June my right hon. Friend gave the House details of the measures taken by Her Majesty's Government to help with the immediate humanitarian side of the refugee problem. Subsequently we voted for the General Assembly's resolution dealing the refugee problem and other humanitarian questions. We warmly welcome the action of the Secretary-General in appointing a representative to go to the Middle East to assist him in discharging the responsibilities laid on him by this resolution and we hope it may lead to a concerted effort by the international community to find a solution to the problem.—[Vol. 749, c.16–17.]
81. Mr. Colin Jacksonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the latest information he has concerning the number and condition of Arab refugees on the east bank of the River Jordan; and what help Her Majesty's Government is giving to help sustain them.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe latest reports indicate that between 150,000 and 200,000 refugees have now crossed the Jordan. The announcement by the Israel Government that they will give the refugees until 10th August to return is most welcome and should make it easier166W for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency to cope with the problem. With regard to the help given by Her Majesty's Government, I would refer by hon. Friend to the reply I have given today to the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes (Sir T. Beamish).
§ 85. Mr. Goodhartasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action is being taken to help British subjects who have been forced to leave Egypt, Syria and Jordan in recent weeks.
§ Mr. William RodgersI have nothing to add to my reply earlier today to the right hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Boyd-Carpenter) and to the reply by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 7th July to the noble Lord the Member for Hertford (Lord Balniel). —[Vol. 749, c. 302–3.]
§ Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he now proposes to take with a view to obtaining a settlement in the Middle East; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. George BrownI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. G. Campbell) and other hon. Members on this subject earlier today.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will take steps to encourage the use of Israeli technological and industrial expertise, in co-operation with the Arab countries, for the benefit of all the nations of the Middle East.
§ Mr. William RodgersHer Majesty's Government would welcome and encourage co-operation between Israel and the Arab States but this is hardly possible in present circumstances.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposal Her Majesty's Government now have to achieve a permanent settlement in the Middle East.
§ Mr. George BrownI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier to the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. G. Campbell) and to other hon. Members.