§ 90 Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Prime Minister (1) whether, since his statement that the Government had no official confirmation of the reports concerning excesses and high-handed proceedings by Serbians in occupation of Montenegro, he has received any information on the subject from the Montenegrin Government; if so, will he say what is the purport of such information;
(2) in view of the fact that the conduct of the Serbians in occupation of Monte- 663 negro resembles the ferocity of the German occupation of Belgium, whether in conjunction with our other Allies he has considered any policy designed to put an end to the oppression of Montenegro by relieving her of the Serbians, who are treating her as conquered territory with a view to her forcible annexation;
(3) whether he has any information to the effect that a number of Montenegrins have been assassinated, imprisoned, or otherwise ill-treated by Serbians for refusing to swear allegiance to the King of Serbia;
(4) whether a proposal was made to the Peace Conference by the Montenegrin Government that, to enable elections to be held in Montenegro under free conditions, the country should be temporarily occupied by British and American troops; and, if such a course is impracticable, will he say what alternative policy has been suggested to enable elections to be held free from Serbian control!
§ THE PRIME MINISTERI cannot usefully add anything to what I have already said on the subject. I am sure that my hon. Friend will realise that as this is a question which is to be discussed at the forthcoming Allied Conference I cannot make any statement at present.