§ 64. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will instruct the United Kingdom delegate to the United Nations to propose that Egypt be called upon to terminate forthwith the state of war which that country claims has existed between Egypt and Israel since 1948; and to propose that a detachment of the United Nations Emergency force shall take over from the Israeli forces in the Sharm el Sheikh area, so as to ensure freedom for the ships of all nations entering or leaving the Gulf of Aqaba.
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreFor the moment, I do not think I can usefully add to what my right hon. and learned Friend said on this subject on 11th February.
§ 65. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of repeated statements by the Egyptian Government that a state of war has existed between Israeli and Egypt since 1948, he will instruct the United Kingdom delegate to the United Nations to propose that the dispute between those two countries, with special reference to the Gaza strip and non-interference with shipping in the Gulf of Aqaba, should be reconsidered by the Security Council of the United Nations as being a more suitable body to deal with this matter than the General Assembly.
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreWhile not altogether in disagreement with the thought behind my hon. Friend's Question, my right hon. and learned Friend does not consider that, in present circumstances, it would be timely to make such proposals.