§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in addition to presenting Colonel Nasser with an account for the property of British citizens and companies which he unlawfully seized, he will also submit a demand for the repayment of costs incurred by rerouting British shipping via the Cape, the extra payments involved in the purchase of dollar oil, and the cost of British salvage vessels for which Egypt is primarily responsible.
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreAll these matters and many others will be borne in mind when the time comes for a financial settlement with Egypt.
§ Captain Kerbyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what contribution Her Majesty's Government is expected to make towards the cost of the United Nations Emergency Force in Egypt and of clearing the Canal; and if he will refuse to pay this until British claims against Egypt have been met in full.
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreOn 26th November, the General Assembly of the United Nations authorised the Secretary General to establish a United Nations Emergency Force Special Account of$10 million, drawn from the Working Capital Fund and other sources available to him, pending the receipt of contributions from member nations. On 21st December, the General Assembly adopted a resolution providing that the $10 million should be contributed by members in accordance with the ordinary scale of assessment. The 59W question of expenditure in excess of $10 million was referred to a committee for further consideration.
The method of payment, for clearing the Suez Canal has not yet been settled. In accordance with the general responsibility laid upon him by the Resolution of 2nd November, the Secretary General is raising an interim loan from member countries to finance the first stage of the clearing operation.
It would not in any way further British claims against Egypt to withhold contributions due to the United Nations Organisation to enable it to carry out the urgent tasks which it has assumed in Egypt.