Mr. Speaker:

I doubt whether the question is acceptable, but because of the particular circumstances it might be allowed at this time.

Hon. Jean-Luc Pepin (Minister of Energy,

Mines and Resources): A request went to the Secretary of State for External Affairs, Mr. Speaker, and I have also been in communication with Mr. Weir on the subject. We are planning a meeting in the coming weeks.

Mr. Robert McCleave (Halifax):

I have a question for the Prime Minister of which I have given him notice in the absence of the Minister of Transport. Will the government look into the request of shippers and longshoremen that the proposed increases in pilotage and boat charges at Halifax be re-examined? The urgency arises from the proposed effective date of April 1.

Right Hon. L. B. Pearson (Prime Minister):

I shall be glad to look into that matter at once with the minister. I will talk to him on the telephone about it.

Mr. A. D. Alkenbrack (Prince Edward-Len-nox):

I have a question for the Prime Minister. In the light of the recommendations of the B and B commission regarding linguistic rights and the conclusions of the constitutional conference on the same question, can the Prime Minister say whether there has been any reference or protest to the bilingual and bicultural commission concerning the refusal of the school board at St. Leonard, near Montreal, to allow bilingual teaching in an area where 80 per cent of the taxpayers have requested English language schools?

Mr. Speaker:

Order. I have some doubt whether the matter raised by the hon. member comes within the jurisdiction of any federal minister. However, if it does the question should be placed on the order paper.

Mr. H. W. Herridge (Kootenay West):

should like to address a question to the Prime Minister. Has the Prime Minister anything to report to the house with regard to the very frightening development in the Middle East? Has any action been undertaken by the United Nations to improve the situation?

Right Hon. L. B. Pearson (Prime Minister):

As my hon. friend and the house know, yesterday Israeli armed forces carried out attacks into Jordanian territory. These Israeli forces, I understand, have now been or are being withdrawn. There seem to have been losses in men and equipment on both sides. As my hon. friend undoubtedly knows, the Security Council has been meeting since yesterday afternoon to consider the situation, and it is our hope that the council will be able to take action to bring about not only a restoration of the cease fire but a more effective observance of the cease fire in the future. I understand that resolutions are being considered now informally pending a meeting of the Security Council later this day.

These attacks have to be considered, Mr. Speaker, in relation to a series of exchanges that have taken place in recent weeks between Israeli and Jordanian forces and

March 22, 1968

continued sabotage activities in Israel. The government, and I am sure the house, deplore the acts of violence that have taken place between the two countries which, in addition to inflicting needless suffering on the local population, have prejudiced and made more difficult the task of the United Nations special representative, Mr. Gunnar Jarring, who is trying to assist the parties to attain a just and lasting settlement in the area.

We hope, and I know the house hopes, that both sides will exercise moderation and restraint and avoid steps that can only impede the establishment of peace. I hope it will also be possible to put United Nations observers into this particular area with the hope that this might help prevent a recurrence of these actions.

Mr. David MacDonald (Prince):

Mr. Speaker, my question is addressed to the Prime Minister and is with regard to the difficult and tragic war that is taking place in Nigeria at the present time. I wonder whether the Prime Minister can inform the house whether our government has made representations at the United Nations for the UN commission on human rights to investigate this tragic war and make a report on the situation.

Right Hon. L. B. Pearson (Prime Minister):

Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of any such initiative being taken by the Canadian representative at the United Nations, but I will be glad to look into this matter and see whether it is under consideration.

Mr. MacDonald (Prince):

A supplementary question on the same matter. Has our government expressed some dissatisfaction with the government of the United Kingdom and the Soviet union for taking sides in this bitter war?

Mr. Pearson:

Mr. Speaker, I will be glad to look into this, but I do not know of any evidence that would warrant an intervention on our part with the U.S.S.R. and the United Kingdom in this connection or, indeed, an intervention on the other side.