§ 64. Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom supported the plan put forward at the United Nations by Mr. Hammarskjold for a 3 per cent. surcharge on all Suez Canal traffic to meet expenses incurred in the clearing of the waterway; and what is the estimated proportion of the surcharge to be borne by British shipping.
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreHer Majesty's Government supported Mr. Hammarskjold's plan because the credit of the United Nations had been engaged when the necessary advances of money were obtained for clearing the Canal. These advances must obviously be repaid. This plan seemed to be the least unsatisfactory of the possible arrangements. Until details of the plan are known, it is difficult to assess accurately the proportion of the surcharge to be borne by British shipping, but the current proportion of ships using the Canal that fly the British flag is just over 20 per cent.