HC Deb 10 June 1955 vol 542 cc1-2W
Mr. Mott-Radclyffe

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the views officially expressed by the Egyptian member of the Sudan Governor-General's Commission in a recent interview with the Egyptian weekly "Al-Musawwar"; and whether he will make plain to the Egyptian Government that Her Majesty's Government regard this statement as a clear attempt to prejudice the free exercise by the Sudanese people of their right to determine their future status.

Mr. Turton

Yes. My attention has been drawn to this interview. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister informed the House on 30th March, it remains the firm intention of Her Majesty's Government to respect both the spirit and the letter of the Anglo-Egyptian Agreement and to do everything possible to facilitate the process of self-determination. We have refrained from, and shall continue to refrain from, any action that might tend to influence the Sudan people's free choice of their future status. We expect the Egyptian Government to do the same. It is not clear whether Air Commodore Zulfacar was expressing an official view or a personal opinion. But on 6th June my right hon. Friend the Minister of State told the Egyptian Ambassador that Her Majesty's Government regard Air Commodore Zulfacar's statement as a breach of the Agreement and expressed the expectation that the Egyptian Government will prevent any activities that might tend to influence the Sudan people's choice.