HC Deb 28 January 1957 vol 563 cc107-9W
61. Mr. E. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what assurances had been received by Her Majesty's Government that Egypt would neither be allowed to reoccupy the Gaza Strip and use it as a base for raids against Israel nor to occupy and fortify the islands and mainland at the entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba so as to be able to interfere with shipping wishing to enter or leave the Gulf before our representative at the United Nations voted in favour of a Resolution ordering Israel to withdraw immediately from Egyptian territory.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

I would remind my hon. Friend that our position has always been that Israel should withdraw from Egyptian territory and from the Gaza Strip. But, as my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of State told the United Nations General Assembly on 18th January, we recognise that the withdrawal of the Israeli forces will leave certain serious problems which demand a solution, and that by insisting on the withdrawal of those forces the United Nations has inevitably assumed a responsibility for dealing with those problems.

68. Captain Kerby

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent it is still the policy of Her Majesty's Government that Israel should be required to evacuate the Gaza Strip and that this area should become the responsibility of the United Nations.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

My hon. and gallant Friend will be aware that the United Kingdom Delegate voted in favour of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution of 19th January repeating the call on Israel to withdraw to behind the armistice demarcation lines. Her Majesty's Government's view is that the Gaza Strip should be made a United Nations responsibility, as I said in my statement of 3rd December.

79. Mr. Shinwell

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government's representative at the United Nations took before he voted for the Resolution calling upon Israel to evacuate Gaza and islands in the Gulf of Aqaba, to satisfy himself that Israeli ships would be allowed free passage through the Suez Canal and be protected by the United Nations against frontier raids by Egypt.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

The Resolution in question requested the Secretary-General to continue his efforts to secure the complete withdrawal of Israel in pursuance of previous General Assembly Resolutions and to report to the General Assembly within five days. In his speech to the Assembly on this Resolution my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of State put on record Her Majesty's Government's views on Gaza and freedom of navigation in the Gulf of Aqaba. He also pointed out that the United Nations must inevitably assume a responsibility for solving the problems which Israel's withdrawal will leave. Her Majesty's Government will certainly do all they can to ensure that that responsibility is discharged. The Assembly is due to discuss the question again today.

81. Mr. Younger

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government have put forward within the United Nations regarding the control of the Gaza Strip and the safeguarding of free navigation in the Gulf of Aqaba.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the suggestions in the speech made by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of State in the General Assembly on 18th January.