BLOCKADE OF SUEZ CANAL

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26516, 3 September 1951, Page 7

BLOCKADE OF SUEZ CANAL

Egypt Condemned By U.N. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 1. The United Nations Security Council to-day condemned Egypt for blockading Israel-bound ships through the Suez Canal, and called on Egypt to lift the restrictions immediately. The vote was eight to nil in favour of the resolution. India, China, and the Soviet Union abstained from voting. General surprise was caused when the Soviet delegate (Mr Semon Tsarapkin), who had asked for a special meeting to make his views known, remained silent.

The resolution made these points:— (1) Egypt could not reasonably assert that it was actively belligerent against Israel, and therefore could not claim the right of search or seizure of ships for any legitimate purpose of pelf-defence. (2) The Suez Canal blockade was inconsistent with the objectives of peaceful settlement of the dispute between Israel and Egypt.and the establishment of permanent peace in Palestine. (3) The blockade was an abuse of the exercise of right of visit, search, and seizure. (4) The blockade could not be justified on the_ grounds .that it was

needed for Egypt's self-defence. The blockade was unjustified interference with the right of nations to navigate the seas and trade freely with one another. An Egyptian Government spokesman in Cairo to-night said that Egypt’s implementation of the resolution would be conditional on Israel’s fulfilment of past United Nations resolutions on Palestine. , . Egypt considered the resolution as “a simple recommendation” not binding on her. He also said that the Egyptian Government was seriously considering calling a conference of the signatories to the 1888 Suez Canal Convention to examine and resolve new problems created by the Suez Canal. Those problems, he said, included the evacuation of British troops from the Canal Zone and Egypt’s concern over her own security. Ibrahim Farag Pasha, a member of the Cabinet’s Inner Council, said in Cairo last night: “Egypt is in duty bound towards the Arab League member States to control the passage of ships through the Suez Canal in order that no war materials may reach Israel.

“Egypt’s Property” “The canal is Egypt’s property and she has the right to take whatever measures are necessary for her security in accordance with Article 10 of the

1888 Convention. "I do not know of any logic, law, or international tradition which allows Britain and the United States a right in the last war which is later denied Egypt when she herself is now in a state of war with Israel.” The Arab League Secretary-General, Abdel Rahman Assam Pasha, said: “Undoubtedly the Arab League will support Egypt in the same manner as the member States have unanimously backed Egypt on all occasions.”