BRITAIN UNITED IN REFUSAL TO QUIT EGYPT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23425, 2 December 1950, Page 8

BRITAIN UNITED IN REFUSAL TO QUIT EGYPT

LONDON, Nov. 30.—Last week’s debate on Egypt and this week’s debate on foreign affairs in (he House cf Commons have indicated how tightly closed are the ranks of Labour, Conservative and Liberal members on the attitude of Egypt.

The Government spokesmen have made it plain that Britain has no intention of discarding its prodominant position in the defence pattern of the strategic Middle East and Opposition member after member has echoed the suspicion, voiced in and outside the House, that the Egyptians would do little to aid the British in the Middle East in event of trouble. Members of both sides roared with ironic laughter when the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Davies, said seriously: “Egypt is a country with which we have a defence agreement and which we still consider would stand by us in case of emergency.”

Mr. Eden made a new point by assessing the cost to Britain of Egypt’s action in stopping British oil tankers going through Suez Canal. “The restrictions on the working of the Haifa oil refineries caused by the ban has involved us—apart from West European neighbours—in loss of petrol products worth £1,428,000 monthly or about £17.000,000 a year,”, said Mr. Eden. For this reason and because Egypt has challenged the treaty with Britain and has not kept to the United Nations’ decision on Korea we should suspend the supply of arms to Egypt.” ■ Mr. Eden said he supported Mr. Ernest Bevin’s statement that Britain would not let Egypt make a one-sided break of the treaty negotiations.