LEGAL ACTION CONTEMPLATED AGAINST EGYPT BY BRITAIN; TANKERS FOR ISRAEL THROUGH SUEZ

Wanganui Chronicle, 17 June 1950, Page 5

LEGAL ACTION CONTEMPLATED AGAINST EGYPT BY BRITAIN; TANKERS FOR ISRAEL THROUGH SUEZ

LONDON, June 16 (Recd 6 pm).— An indication that the British Government might institute legal action against the Egyptian Government to obtain “free” passage through the Suez Canal of oil tankers destined lor Israel, was given in the House of Commons by Mr Younger, Minister of > State. I He said that various types of legal action were under consideration, ineluding a submission of the blockade case to the International Court of Justice at IThc Hague. Mr. Younger admitted that Egypt’s sole justification for search or seizure of tankers was the state of war which still exists with Israel. He said the Egyptian Government adamantly contended that oil shipments en route to ■Haifa refineries constituted war con traband.

Mr. Anthony Eden observed that negotiations had been dragging on for months, and .suggested that the British Government invite Egypt to "view the facts in a wholly different light and allow this normal trade to proceed.” Mr. Younger replied: "We are continuously making representations to the Egyptian Government on precisely that point.” He hinted that a legal allack on Hie blockade, if instituted, would be made under articles 9 and 10 of Ihe Suez Canal Convention, governing operations in the zone. The two articles bind Egypt to keep ihe canal open to ship traffic, even in times of war, but they specify that the Egyptian Government may take the necessary steps to provide for its own defence. The question thus raised would be whether

Egypt, Io protect itself, might right’ fully prevent oil from passing to Israel during the period of the armistice, but not formal peace. A foreign Office spokesman said later that legal action of this type had never previously been taken by Britain in respect to Ihe Suez Canal zone. Anglo-Israel negotiations arft proceeding to resumed operation of ihe refineries which before the Arab Jewish war produced 4,000,000 tons ol refined fuel products annually. Israel is insisting that the Anglo-Uranian Oil Company, the British ■'Government controlled Corporation, which owns the refineries, begin the immediate importation of crude oil from regions where passage through the Suez Canal will not be required. N.Z.P.A. Correspondent.