Britain Did Not Ask That Haifa Be Declared a Free Port, Foreign Minister Reports

Foreign Secretary Herbert Morrison today told the House of Commons that the British Government had not approached the Israel Government with a request that Haifa and its oil refineries be declared a free port because the British Government did not believe that trade conditions which might make such a move expedient existed at this time.

The statement was made in reply to questions by Opposition M.P.’s who challenged the Government’s Middle East oil policy. He was also asked for ideas for ### the plants, whose products are badly needed in the British Empire, back into full operation. A third query was aimed at what the government had done about the Egyptian blockade of the Suez to tankers carrying oil to Haifa. Mr. Morrison’s reply was to state that an approach had been made to the Egyptian government on this matter.