§ Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what decisions were made at the emergency meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations on the Middle East, and on their implementation.
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreThe decisions made at the emergency meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations were embodied in the Resolution presented by ten Arab States and unanimously endorsed by the General Assembly on the night of 21st-22nd August. A copy of this Resolution has been placed in the Library of the House. Its essential features were a call for good-neighbourliness among all member States (and more specifically among the sponsors of the Resolution); and a request to the Secretary-General to make such practical arrangements as would help to give effect to this aim in relation to the Lebanon and Jordan and thereby facilitate the early withdrawal of United States and British troops respectively from the two countries. The Secretary-General was also asked to continue his investigations into the possibility of helping an Arab Development Institution designed to further economic growth in the Arab countries of the Near East.
In consequence of this Resolution, Mr. Hammarskjold visited the area and had discussions with the Arab Governments concerned. He subsequently presented to the General Assembly a Report, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
259WThe Secretary-General's Report also enclosed memoranda by the United States Government and Her Majesty's Government concerning the withdrawal of their troops. The withdrawal of United Kingdom forces began on 20th October, and is likely to be completed in about three weeks from that date. The Secretary-General of the United Nations has obtained assurances from the United Arab Republic that facilities will be available for flying out over United Arab Republic territory that part of the United Kingdom forces which has to be transported by air.
As regards the Arab Development Institution, the Secretary-General's Report concludes that, although there is widespread interest in such a project, some further progress in the political field is necessary before such a form of co-operation can be successfully reactivated. He has however informed the Arab Governments concerned of the ways in which the United Nations might be able to help with the project.