HC Deb 23 October 1950 vol 478 c293W
68. Colonel Crosthwaite-Eyre

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further action has been taken by His Majesty's Government to ensure the removal of restrictions imposed by the Egyptian Government on the free movement of merchant shipping through the Suez Canal.

Mr. Ernest Davies

The Egyptian Government's restrictions in the Suez Canal, which His Majesty's Government continue to regard as quite unjustifiable, have lately been the subject of further protest by His Majesty's Government and by the governments of other maritime powers. I should, however, point out that the Egyptian Government have not placed restrictions on the movement of shipping through the Canal but have claimed the right to control the passage of war contraband through the Canal to Israel. This question is now before the Security Council.