A collection of parliamentary papers obtained by Prospect and published here for the first time sheds new light on Britain’s relationship with the Middle East and western engagement in the region. Bronwen Maddox, editor of Prospect, has written on their significance here in the latest issue.
These 140 pages (of which a small number are missing) are the detailed notes of a three-week trip by George Brown, MP and deputy leader of the Labour party, as well as former foreign secretary, to meet political leaders across the Middle East and Gulf from 29th December 1969 to 19th January 1970.
The account of his visit, which features moments of high comedy, includes reports of his conversations with Golda Meir, prime minister of Israel, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, the shah of Iran, and Gamal Abdel Nasser, president of Egypt. In 23 days, Brown visited eight countries (see map below) and attended more than 100 meetings.
A small number of pages from the trip to Egypt are missing, including some from his meeting with Nasser, as well as a page from the trip to Lebanon. Some pages were badly faded and have been retyped, although a few illegible words were left out.
The reports have been organised by country, in the order that Brown visited them.
If you have any queries, email elwes@prospect-magazine.co.uk
Click on a country to read about Brown's visit
Bahrain | Kuwait | Jordan | Egypt (UAR) | Lebanon | Iraq | Iran | Israel
Brown's itinerary for the tour
