§ 16. Mr. Arthur Hendersonasked the Prime Minister whether he will assure the House that this country is no longer bound by the convention with Germany, signed secretly in 1898, to settle which of the Portuguese Colonies in Africa should be assigned to this country and to Germany in the event of Portugal desiring to sell part of her African Colonies?
§ Mr. ButlerYes, Sir. His Majesty's Government do not regard this pre-war Convention as having any operative force to-day.
§ Mr. HendersonCan the hon. Member say whether the statement of policy which was made by the ex-Foreign Secretary, the right hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Eden) on 21st December, 1937, when he stated that His Majesty's Government did not intend to make any deal with Germany in the Colonial field at the expense of other Colonial Powers, still stands?
§ Mr. ButlerThe hon. Member has put a question on the Order Paper which I have answered. I really cannot give any further answer.
§ 17. Mr. Hendersonasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the declaration made by the Prime Minister of Portugal on 16th October that this 850 country was pledged to defend Portuguese colonies; and whether the declaration secretly signed on 14th October, 1899, which renewed the Treaty of Alliance with Portugal, as a guarantee of Portugal's colonial possessions against attack, is still in force?
§ Mr. ButlerThe answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative. It has repeatedly been stated in this House that His Majesty's Government have always admitted, and still admit, the validity of the Treaties between themselves and Portugal.
§ Mr. BellengerWill the Chancellor of the Exchequer make representations to the Prime Minister to publish the information concerning some of these secret Treaties with regard to Portugal, so that we may know where we stand if we are involved in war on behalf of Portugal?
§ Mr. HannahDoes not this Treaty date from the fourteenth century?
§ Mr. ManderMay we be informed whether the obligations of this Treaty to-day are held to be as binding as the Covenant of the League of Nations?
§ Mr. ButlerThe validity of the Treaties between ourselves and Portgual is admitted and accepted by his Majesty s Government.