§ 40 Mr. ORMSBY-GOREasked the Prime Minister (1) whether any provisions exist in the Treaty of Peace with Turkey regarding the future sovereignty and government of the former Turkish provinces of Yemen and Asir respectively; whether there still exists any treaty between this country and the Said Idrissi of Asir; if so, whether this treaty recognises his authority in Asir and, if so, throughout the province of Asir; whether the subsidy paid to the Said Idrissi during the war for his co-operation against the Turks has now ceased; whether he is now free to enter into treaties with other Powers;
(2) whether the Imam Yahya of Sanaa has been recognised by the Allies as the successor of the Sultan of Turkey to all rights hitherto possessed by Turkey in the province of Yemen, including control of the commercial ports, the Yemen, Hodeidah, and Mocha; whether steps are being taken to arrange a treaty with the Imam Yahya regarding trade between the Yemen and the Aden protectorate; whether the good offices of the British Government will be offered in securing a peaceful settlement between the rival claims of the Imam Yahya and the Said Idrissi in Western Yemen; and whether the Indian battalion will be retained at Hodeidah until some friendly arrangement between these two rulers regarding the government and use of that port has been reached.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe answer to the first and last parts of the first question is in the negative; to the remaining three parts of the question in the affirmative. The future of the Arabian Peninsular, exclusive of the Hejaz, is now under discussion between the principal Allied Powers, in favour of whom Turkey is, by the terms of the Peace Treaty, to renounce all rights and title therein. Until a decision has been reached by the principal Allied Powers as to the future of the Arabian Peninsula, exclusive of the Hejaz, it would be premature to say more than that the good offices of His Majesty's Government will always be offered in securing a peaceful settlement between the independent rulers of Arabia.
Mr. PALMER(by Private Notice) asked the Leader of the House whether he could 1734 make any statement as to the decision of the Government to accept the military aid of Greece in dealing with Turkish Nationalists?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThere is no special statement to be made on the subject. As a matter of fact, it is now under discussion at Boulogne. Greece is one of the Allies, and Greek troops will, if necessary, be used, like others of the Allied nations concerned, by general agreement of the Allies and acting on the advice of their military advisers.