Egypt bars U.K. sub. from canal

Press, 31 October 1977, Page 8

Egypt bars U.K. sub. from canal

NZPA London Egypt’s refusal to let Britain’s nuclear powered submarine Dreadnought through the Suez Canal has sparked off urgent top-level diplomatic talks in a bid to persuade the Government in Cairo to change its mind. As Dreadnought waits at the northern end of the canal for the go-ahead to sail through, British Foreign Office and Defence Ministry diplomats have been taking part in talks with their opposite numbers in Egypt. But so far the Egyptian Government has refused to let the submarine, which is not nuclear armed, sail through on a scheduled naval exercise. Dreadnought, held up for the past few days, is part of a task force which set from Britain last month on a seven and one half month trip. Once through the canal — and so far the others have passed through—the force is due to split up. Different ships will visit various ports, as well as taking part in naval exercises. Some are due to spend Christmas in Hong Kong, others in Australia. “It seems that Egypt

meeds more time to consider the transit of nuclearpowered vessels through the canal,” said a Ministry of Defence official. Dreadnought normally has a crew of 95 officers and men and was built in 1963. She is 81 metres long.