§ 32. Mr. John Hallasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the United Nations Organisation has yet agreed on the action to be taken, first, should the clearance of the Suez Canal be deliberately delayed and, second, if, after the canal is opened, Egypt should refuse freedom of passage to all ships without discrimination.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydNo.
The United Nations is not a world government and a general assembly cannot from its nature undertake forward planning.
§ 38. Mr. P. Noel-Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that on 7th and 20th November the Secretary-General of the United Nations laid down a programme for the clearance of the Suez Canal, through agents, from nations not involved in the conflict, clearance to begin after French and British troops had left Egypt and that the British delegate spoke and voted for this programme on 24th November; and whether he will make a statement about the progress made.
§ 64. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can now say when the obstacles to the passage of ships through the Suez Canal will be removed and free navigation resumed.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydI am not clear what action by the Secretary-General on 7th November the right hon. Gentleman has in mind. With regard to the Secretary-General's report of 20th November, I do not altogether accept the description of it given in this Question. On 24th November I voted for a Resolution which approved the progress so far made by 113W the Secretary-General as set forth in his report, and (this was the point of the Resolution) authorised him to proceed with the exploration of practical arrangements and the negotiation of agreements so that the clearing operations might be speedily and effectively undertaken.
With regard to the progress made, the latest information I have received is that the United Nations salvage operations are up to schedule and a channel will be open early next month.