Robert Allen, Parliamentary Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, said today in Commons that no Israel ships have attempted to pass through the Suez Canal for several years. Mr. Allen made the statement in a written reply to a question from Eric Johnston, Conservative MP.
Mr. Johnston had asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he had received from the Israel Government concerning United Arab Republic interference with Israel ships in the Suez Canal and whether he would make any statement “in the light of British rights and responsibilities under the Suez Canal convention. “
Mr. Allen also said in his reply that the UAR confiscations of Israel cargoes had been taken up by Dag Hammarskjold, United Nations Secretary General, “with the authorities concerned. ” He added that Mr. Hammarskjold had not reported to the UN Security Council on the dispute nor had the authorities invoked intervention by the Security Council.
Reporting that Israel officials had kept the British Government informed of their views through diplomatic channels, Mr. Allen said that the views of the British Government in favor of freedom of passage in the Suez Canal remained as stated on several occasions.
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