§ 34. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, having regard to his statement on the 1st of July, 1919, that the object in. sending Count de Salis to Montenegro was to ascertain the real desire of the Montenegrin people as to their own future and that he would consider the suggestion that the Report, when received, should be laid before the House, he will say whether his present refusal to let Parliament and the country know Count de Salis's Report as to what has been happening in Montenegro is due to any official or unofficial request by the Serbian Government?
§ 35. Mr. McNEILLasked the Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will say for what purpose Serbian troops still occupy Montenegro, after Peace has been signed between Austria-Hungary and the Allies; if he is aware that the Montenegrin people is in danger of being exterminated by the Serbians; whether Serbia has the sanction of the Allied and Associated Powers in treating the most defenceless of our Allies as conquered territory; whether such treatment is to be allowed to continue indefinitely in spite of the conclusion of Peace; and what steps have been taken to carry out the frequent pledge of His Majesty's Government that the people of Montenegro should not be deprived of their independence except by their own consent?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe question of Montenegro is at present, engaging the attention of the Supreme Council in Paris, who are considering the whole subject of South-Eastern Europe. In these circumstances it would obviously be undesirable to deal seriatim with the controversial points raised by the hon. and learned Member.
§ Mr. McNEILLCan my hon. Friend deny that the Salis Report gives a most appalling description of the proceedings of the Serbians in oppressing the Montenegrins?
Mr. HARMSWORTHI have already slated that the Salis Report can scarcely be published, and I should not like to divulge its contents.
§ Lord R. CECILHow long has the Supreme Council been considering the question of Montenegro? Did they not begin last February?
§ Sir S. HOAREWould it not be better to give some publicity to these controversial questions, so as to give public opinion in this House an opportunity of deciding?
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWhen may we expect some statement in this House of the Government's policy as regards South-Eastern Europe?
Mr. HARMSWORTHMy hon. and gallant Friend fails to observe that it is 24 not a matter for His Majesty's Government but for the Supreme Council in Paris.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYHave not the French and American representatives in Parliament had a full statement made to them and an opportunity for discussion? Surely each democracy looks after its own interests?
§ Mr. McNEILLMay I ask whether this Report which we have been asking the hon. Gentleman to lay on the Table does not deal with a mere statement of facts as to the condition of Montenegro and the desire of the Montenegrin people as to their own future; does it not consist of facts rather than of policy, and why cannot the country know what the facts are?
Mr. HARMSWORTHI cannot carry in my mind at the moment every detail of this Report. Intended as it was for the guidance of His Majesty's Government, it is not suitable for general publication.
§ Lord R. CECILCannot my hon. Friend make some kind of extract from the Report giving the facts? Does he not realise that it is really becoming little short of a scandal, the lack of information we have on foreign affairs?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThis House in my recollection of it has not been favourable to expurgated reports, but I shall be glad to consider the point of my Noble Friend.
§ 57. Mr. McNEILLasked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to lay upon the Table of the House the Report of Count de Salis on the treatment of Montenegro by the Serbians; and, if not, whether he will provide an opportunity for the House to discuss the matter at an early date?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIn a matter of this kind the Government must act in concord with our Allies, and, in view of the difficult situation in that part of Europe, the conclusion reached at Paris was that it would be undesirable that the Report should be published at present. For the same reason I do not think that it would be right to have a discussion in the House of Commons.
§ Mr. McNEILLIs my right hon. Friend aware that for more than two years past some Members of this House, including myself, have put questions upon this subject to the Government, and refrained from 25 pressing those questions because they were told that it was not in the national interest during the War, and is that state of things to continue indefinitely? Are the House and the country not even to have the facts that exist in South-Eastern Europe?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWCertainly it would be very wrong that that state of things to which my hon. Friend refers should continue, but he knows, and the House knows, it is not a matter which we can decide by ourselves. As I said, it was considered in Paris, and it was unanimously agreed that it would be undesirable that the Report should be published at present.
§ Lord R. CECILIs it not possible for the Government to give us any of the facts? I recognise the undesirability of discussion, but surely we ought to know what is going on in this and other parts of the world?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIs not that a different question? It is hardly possible for me to make a statement as to facts without going into policy. No one knows better than my Noble Lord how very difficult the situation really is in Serbia and those other countries.
§ Mr. McNEILLIn consequence of my right hon. Friend's answer, I give notice that I shall raise this on the Motion for the Adjournment to-morrow.