HC Deb 19 December 1956 vol 562 c154W
49. Mrs. Braddock

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what prior information was given to the Israeli Government of the decision to send British and French forces into Egypt; and what representations were made by the Israeli Government in this regard.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

As the Prime Minister told the House on 30th October, the Governments of Israel and Egypt were urgently requested on 30th October to stop all warlike action and to withdraw their military forces to a distance of ten miles from the Canal, failing which British and French forces would intervene in whatever strength was necessary to secure compliance. The Israel Government accepted the Anglo-French request in the early hours of 31st October, on condition that the Egyptian Government did likewise.