British forces will be used, if necessary, to pretest the port of Aqaba, in the southern part of the Negev, “from aggression,” Foreign Under Secretary Christopher Mayhew today told Commons.
Answering questions in Parliament, Mayhew said he was aware of Jewish claims on the port, but he did not know whether the claims referred to that portion of the Red Sea port which lies within Transjordan or other sections of the coast. He said that under the Anglo-Transjordan treaty British troops will be sent to the aid of Transjordan in case of aggression against the latter state, adding:
“I think it is clear that an attack against the port of Aqaba in violation of the (U.N.) truce would be an act of aggression against Transjordan requiring action under the Anglo-Transjordan treaty.”
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