§ 2. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the League of Nations proposes to offer any national help to Abyssinia through the medium of the convention for financial assistance to states the subject of aggression, or in any other manner; and whether any application to this effect has been received from Abyssinia?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Ethiopian Government applied, on 1st November, to the League of Nations for aid in accordance with the principles laid down in the Draft Convention for Financial Assistance. The Convention, as the hon. Member will be aware, has not entered into force, and it will be for the Council of the League to deal with the matter.
§ Mr. MANDERCan the Prime Minister say at which meeting of the Council it is likely to be considered? Will it be this week?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo; I am afraid I could not answer that question without notice.
§ 4. Mr. GARRO-JONESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, having regard to analogous precedents, what is the objection he entertains to an unilateral ban by Great Britain in the export of munitions of war, including oil, to the combatants in the Italo-Abyssinian war?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Italo-Abyssinian question is in the hands of the League of Nations, the decisions of whose members are taken collectively. Any action upon the lines proposed in the hon. Member's question would be directly contrary to the policy of His Majesty's Government as frequently outlined by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and myself.
§ Mr. GARRO-JONESHas the right hon. Gentleman noticed the reference to precedents in my question; and does he recollect that a unilateral ban has been imposed in the case of armaments against Japan and China, against Italy and Abyssinia, and against Bolivia and Paraguay? Is it not possible to arrive at some consistency, so that foreign nations would know where we stand?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt might be possible, but I do not think it is desirable. I think that to rely only on precedent might be a mistake in this case. The important thing is to keep the collective action of the League.
§ Mr. DALTONDid not the present Home Secretary, when he held the office of Foreign Secretary, impose a unilateral bin on the export of armaments to both China and Japan?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid I have not that in my mind, but it would not affect my judgment in the present case.
§ 7. Mr. DALTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now make a further statement regarding the proposals submitted, on behalf of His Majesty's Government and the French Government, to the Italian Government for a settlement of the war in Abyssinia?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir; at present there is nothing to add to the statements made by my right hon. Friend 882 the Minister for League of Nations Affairs and myself in the Debate yesterday.
§ Mr. DALTONIn view of the very great concern that is felt in many parts of this country and abroad, will not the Prime Minister now publish the true version of these proposals, inaccurate versions of which, as he is well aware, have appeared in the Press?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo one could be more anxious than I for publication, but the hon. Gentleman will realise that it does not rest with ourselves alone. The very first moment that it is possible to publish them, we shall certainly do so.
§ Mr. MANDERCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the proposals are going to be considered by the Committee of Five of the League to-morrow at Geneva?
§ The PRIME MINISTERUndoubtedly they will be considered, but I am afraid I cannot tell, until my right hon. Friend gets out to Geneva, whether the Committee of Five or the Committee of Eighteen will take the matter in hand.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill they be communicated to the Abyssinian and Italian Governments before Geneva has considered them?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI should be in a better position to answer that question in a day or two; I am not quite certain.
§ 8. Sir PERCY HARRISasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any British nationals were injured when Dessie was bombed by Italian aeroplanes on 6th December; whether any protest has been made through Geneva at the bombing of the American hospital; and whether he can state the number of persons, if any, injured thereby?
§ The PRIME MINISTERSo far as I am aware, no British national was injured in the recent air raids on Dessie. In protesting to the League of Nations against the aerial bombardment of this town, the Emperor of Abyssinia referred to the bombing of the American hospital; and His Majesty's telegram to the League has been followed by a further communication embodying a formal declaration by six doctors of the hospital alleging that more than 40 bombs fell within its 883 precincts. I have no detailed information on the casualties resulting from these raids, but I understand that there were many killed and wounded.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill compensation be paid?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat question, I am afraid, I am not in a position yet to answer.