British Leaders Condemn Policy of Appeasement of Nasser

Former War Minister Emmanuel Shinwell told a 50th anniversary celebration of the proclamation of the Balfour Declaration here that the sinking of the Israeli destroyer Elath by Egyptians was the result of encouragement given to Egyptian leaders by Foreign Secretary George Brown. John Biggs-Davison, a Conservative MP, addressing the gathering held under the auspices of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, denounced the “appeasement, or rather resuscitation of a beaten and bankrupt Cairo junta.” Both condemned Mr. Brown’s stand that Israel had to withdraw from the territories it had occupied in June.

Former Foreign Minister Sir Alec Douglas-Home told the Conservative Party conference at Brighton yesterday of the need to safeguard Britain’s vital interests in negotiations with Nasser on resumption of relations. He charged Egypt had gotten into her economic plight “by her provocative war with Israel.”

The British Government stated in the House of Commons today that no proposals had been put to Egyptian President Nasser for re-opening the Suez Canal or a settlement of the Arab-Israel dispute. The statement was made by Minister of State G. Roberts in a written reply to a question put to the Government by Labor MP Emanuel Shinwell as to whether Foreign Secretary Brown had approached Nasser on these subjects. Mr. Roberts said that there were no approaches apart from the Foreign Secretary’s request through Sir Harold Beeley that four British ships stranded in the Great Bitter Lake near the southern end of the Canal be released. He said he would keep the House informed of any developments.