The British Government will support Israel’s complaint to the United Nations against the Egyptian blockade of the Suez Canal because the Egyptian Government’s actions violate the Constantinople Convention, which governs operation of the Canal, Minister of State Selwyn Lloyd announced in Commons today.
The question was raised by Conservative M.P. Eric Johnson who asked what action had been taken on Israel’s complaint to the UN Security Council against Egypt’s halting ships with Israel-bound cargoes in the canal. When Mr. Lloyd replied that the matter was now under consideration in the Security Council, Mr. Johnson wanted to know what the British Government’s stand on this was. Mr. Lloyd replied that it was to uphold the principle of free navigation through the Canal.
At this point Mr. Johnson asked if it was a fact that the Egyptian Government’s action was in contravention of the Constantinople pact and if it would, therefore, be right for the British Government to support Israel’s protest. Mr. Lloyd said that what the M.P. had said was the view of the British Government.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
