§ Mr. DILLONasked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs on what grounds the Italian Government withdrew the permission given by them last autumn to a Red Crescent expedition to proceed by sea from Egypt to Tripoli; whether it is at present possible for supplies or personnel connected with Red Crescent societies to go from Egypt to Tripoli; and, if not, whether the British Government will request the Italian Government to withdraw their prohibition?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. Grey)I have been informed that the objections of the Italian Government to the dispatch of the Red Crescent Mission by sea were based on a report from General Caneva contending that the landing of such a mission at the time would be regarded by the local population as a reaffirmation of Turkish influence in Tripoli. The Italian Government further argued that, as other missions organised by the Red Crescent had entered Tripoli from Tunis, the Turkish forces were already amply provided in this respect. They also entertained apprehensions that, though the character of the doctors attached to the mission could be established, it would be impossible to apply a similar test to the other members of the mission and thus guard against the presence among them of disguised officers. There is no prohibition against the dispatch of such missions from Egypt to Tripoli by land.