HC Deb 11 February 1957 vol 564 cc113-4W
39. Mr. P. Noel-Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what experience General Wheeler has had of engineering and marine canal work; and why Her Majesty's Government approved of his appointment as Chief of the United Nations Authority for the clearance of the Suez Canal.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

General Wheeler is a retired officer of the United States Army and since 1949 has been Engineer Consultant of the International Bank. His experience of engineering in connection with waterways goes back to 1911. In 1927 to 1930 he was Assistant Engineer of Maintenance of the Panama Canal, and Engineer in 1940 to 1941. During the second war he served in South East Asia. In 1945 he was Chief of the Corps of Engineers in the United States Army. The appointment of staff is within the competence of the Secretary-General and these appointments therefore did not require the agreement of Her Majesty's Government.

40. Mr. P. Noel-Baker

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what experience Mr. John McCloy had had of international, economic, and financial operations; and why Her Majesty's Government agreed to his appointment as Assistant to General Wheeler in the United Nations work of clearing the Suez Canal.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

Mr. McCloy has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chase Manhatten Bank since 1953. From 1947 to 1949 he was President of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and from 1949 to 1952 he was United States High Commissioner for Germany.

He was appointed by the Secretary-General in the same way as General Wheeler and his appointment likewise did not require the agreement of Her Majesty's Government.