EGYPT’S ATTITUDE TO KOREAN CONFLICT IS CAUSE OF CONCERN

Wanganui Chronicle, 22 July 1950, Page 5

EGYPT’S ATTITUDE TO KOREAN CONFLICT IS CAUSE OF CONCERN

LONDON, July 21 (Recd. Bpm).—; The suggestion that Egypt, by refus-' fng to associate itself with the collective United Nations action against North Korea, had demonstrated that it was unwilling to participate in efforts to enforce collective security, was made during question time in the House of Commons. Mr. lan Mikardo, Labour member for Reading, suggested that in view of the Egyptian attitude, Britain should refuse to supply Egypt with any further arms. The theory was that this supply of arms would enable Egypt to play its part in collective defence, but if Egypt was not prepared to do this, there seemed no point in continuing the supply.

Mr. Anthony Eden, Conservative member for Warwick and Learnington: Is it not the position that though we still are supplying arms to Egypt, she will not adhere to the United Nations resolution and still stops our tankers going through the Suez Canal? It really seems she is getting away with too much.

Mr. Kenneth Younger (Minister of State): I think your facts are unfortunately correct.

Mr. Younger said the Egyptian attitude was most disappointing and, though the Government had been assured that, the Egyptians condemned North Korean aggression, it was also true that, the Egyptians had refused to support the United Nations resolution to give aid to South Korea. The British Government, did not, at the moment, contemplate any change in the policy of supplying arms to Egypt, but it was keeping the subject constantly under review.