HC Deb 09 November 1911 vol 30 cc1786-9
Mr. MARK SYKES

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the functions of the Ottoman Public Debt have been suspended in Tripoli by the Italian Government?

The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir Edward Grey)

The Italian authorities have taken possession of the offices of the Ottoman Debt in Tripoli, and the Turkish officials have been removed. The Italian Government have, however, expressed their readiness to respect the rights of the bondholders, and to enter into negotiations for that object with the Council of the Ottoman Debt.

Mr. M. SYKES

asked whether the oasis of Jaghbub is in Anglo-Egyptian or Tripolitan territory, or whether it is independent?

Sir E. GREY

His Majesty's Government consider Jaghbub to be in Egyptian territory, and both the Porte and the Italian Government are aware of this view.

Mr. M. SYKES

Is Jaghbub at present occupied?

Sir E. GREY

I must ask for notice.

EARL of RONALDSHAY

Do the Italian and Ottoman Governments accept the view taken by His Majesty's Government?

Sir E. GREY

I am not sure that their acceptanace has been asked. We have made our statement, and intend to adhere to it.

Mr. DILLON

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received from the British Consuls full un-censored reports of occurrences in Tripoli and Benghazi during the last three weeks; and, if not, whether he will take immediate steps to secure such reports?

Sir E. GREY

The Consul-General at Tripoli has heard from newspaper correspondents some of the statements such as have appeared in the Press, but, as I informed the hon. Member on November 2nd, I cannot undertake to publish official information except when British subjects are concerned, and as a matter of fact the Consul-General was not present when the fighting took place, nor would it have been any part of his duty to be so.

Mr. DILLON

asked when the British Government became aware of the agreement between France and Italy, giving Italy a free hand in Tripoli as a condition of Italy's friendly attitude towards French designs in Morocco; and whether the British Government acquiesced in this arrangement?

Sir E. GREY

I can make no statements about agreements that may, or may not, exist between other Powers, to which we are not a party, and for which His Majesty's Government have no responsibility.

Mr. DILLON

asked whether the Italian Government has communicated to the British Government a proclamation announcing the annexation of Tripoli to Italy; what effect such proclamation is interpreted by the Italian Government to have on the status of inhabitants of Tripoli who continue to resist the Italian troops; whether the British Government has recognised or assented to this proclamation; and whether the British Government will address to the Italian Government a remonstrance against any penal measures against the people of Tripoli based on this proclamation.

Sir E. GREY

The answer to the first question is in the affirmative. I cannot answer the second question. The answer to the third question is in the negative; and the answer to the last question is in the negative. To give any other answer would mean intervention in the war between Italy and Turkey.

Mr. DILLON

Is it not the fact that the issue of such a proclamation involves the treating of all inhabitants who resist the troops of the Power that issued the proclamation as rebels, and their execution?

Sir E. GREY

I cannot say what the interpretation of the Italian Government will be as to the effect of the proclamation. The proclamation has been communicated to us, and so also has a protest from the Turkish Government against it being communicated to us. This seems to be the sort of thing about which one can say nothing, and about which one must preserve one's rights whilst hostilities are proceeding.

EARL of RONALDSHAY

asked if the right hon. Gentleman has any official information in confirmation of, or denying, the accusations of barbarism brought against the Italian troops in Tripoli by Lieutenant H. G. Montagu and other correspondents?

Sir E. GREY

I am not in possession of any official information on this subject; and I would refer to the reply already given to the hon. Member for East Mayo on this subject to-day.

Mr. D. MASON

If, as he says, it is no part of the duty of the British Consul to furnish the right hon. Gentleman with information regarding the occurrences that have taken place in Tripoli, and if he refuses to take the evidence of newspaper correspondents, how then can the right hon. Gentleman make a protest against the violation of a Convention to which His Majesty's Government have been a party?

Sir E. GREY

I have not accepted or refused anything in this matter. What I said was that it was no part of the duty of the Consul to be present where the fighting took place, but I did not say it was not part of his duty to give such information as came to him.

Mr. D. MASON

How then could the British Consul give evidence if he is not present?

Colonel YATE

Is he English or Maltese or what?

Sir E. GREY

He is a British subject and a salaried Consular officer. Alvarez is his name.

Colonel YATE

What is the Consul at Benghazi—is he Maltese or English, or what is he?

Sir E. GREY

At Benghazi he is a salaried officer, and his name is Jones.

Colonel YATE

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to a letter, October 1911, from Mr. Cardona, Acting-Lieu-tenant-Governor of Malta, to Mr. Zammit, dated 4th October, 1911, in which he acknowledges the receipt of the latter's letter of 29th September on the subject of the situation of the Maltese residents at Benghazi, and also to the allegation that the Government of Malta had taken no steps to protect its suffering subjects, of whom it appears that eight were killed and others wounded during the bombardment; and whether he can give any information as to what arrangements were made to protect Maltese subjects at Benghazi, and if these arrangements were not complete whose fault it was?

Sir E. GREY

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Rutland on 2nd November. Maltese interests at Benghazi are in the care of His Majesty's Consul. The eight Maltese killed during the bombardment of Benghazi were killed by falling masonry, and no precautions could have been taken by us to obviate this danger, incidental to the bombardment.

Colonel YATE

May I ask whether any representations have been made to the Government in Malta regarding the letter referred to?

Sir E. GREY

I must ask the hon. Member for notice. He asks me about some communication to the Government of Malta.

Colonel YATE

I referred to the question of a letter.

Sir E. GREY

I must ask for notice of communications with the Government of Malta.