RIFT IN BRITISH GOVERNMENT

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28133, 23 November 1956, Page 13

RIFT IN BRITISH GOVERNMENT

Divided Views On

Egypt Policy

(N.2. Press Association—Copyright)

I (Rec. 10.40 p.m.) LONDON, November 22. Sir Anthony Eden is packing todav for a three-week rest cure in Jamaica with supporters of his Conservative Government m a turmoil over the timing of a British and French withdrawal from Egypt. •Tn? P r p;G»vernment newspapers today report the possibility of his administration being brought down by a revolt | among its followers if it shows weakness over the issue. One newspaper which has backed the British and French intervention m Egypt asserts that between 35 and 50 Conservative < members of Parliament will withhold their support of the | Government if it submits to the United Nations pressure io quit Egypt immediately.

TROOPS TO LEAVE

Pledge Of Three Powers

(Rec. 10 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 22. Mr Hammarskjold. the United Nations Secretary-General, would report to the General Assembly today that Britain. France and Israel had all promised to withdraw some of their troops from Egypt, a Reuter correspondent said.

His announcement, in an official report on the amount of compliance by the three Powers with the Assembly’s emergency session resolutions earlier this month calling for a cease fire in Egypt and withdrawal of British, French and Israeli forces, was expected a few hours before the Assembly resumed its Middle East debate.

Britain disclosed last night that she would pull a battalion out of Port Said and- co-operate with the United Nations Emergency Force, providing it with supplies, and withdrawing her troops altogether, as it became effective.

Israel announced that she had already withdrawn forces “for varying distances along the entire Egyptian front,’’ and would willingly pull out altogether “immediately upon the conclusion of satisfactory arrangements with the , United Nations for the emergency force.”

These “satisfactory arrangements,’’ an Aide Memoire from the Israeli delegation said, must ensure Israel’s aecunty against a recurrence of the threat of danger of attack, and against acts of belligerency by land or sea.

France was. reported to have withdrawn naval units amounting to at least one-third of her total establishment in Egypt.

But there was no official confirmation of this, pending publication of Mr Hammarskjold’s report, though it was known that some French forces had left Egypt. All the three governments replied to questions addressed by Mr Hammarskjold to their Foreign Ministers, who are how attending the General Assembly.

The correspondent said their withdrawal orders were expected to ease the tension in the General Assembly. Delegations, especially those in the Communist and African-Asian blocs, have been clamouring for such a move

If it had not come flow a resolution to prod the British. French and Israelis into action would almost certainly have been tabled.