§ 31. Lord R. CECILasked the Prime Minister whether he will lay upon the Table the reply of the Council of the League of Nations to the suggestion that the League should undertake to provide for a mandate for Armenia; whether the publication of this reply had been arranged for; whether at the last minute its publication was objected to by the Supreme Council; whether the British Government approved of its publication by its representative on the Council of the League but objected to it by its representative on the Supreme Council; and, if so, what were the reasons for this change of opinion?
§ Mr. SHORTTAt the beginning of the San Remo Conference a message was received from the Secretary-General of the League asking if the Supreme Council saw any objection to the publication of their Memorandum.
The Supreme Council thought it right to reserve their decision until they had been able to consider the whole question of Armenia and to send a reply to the League of Nation's Memorandum.
Eventually at their final meeting on 26th April the Supreme Council approved a reply to the Council of the League, included with which was a Memorandum addressed to President Wilson. The view of the Supreme Council was that it would be preferable to publish the whole correspondence simultaneously, and that it would be discourteous to publish the Memorandum to President Wilson, which was also an enclosure to, and an essential part of the reply to the Council of the League, before the President had received it or replied to it.
It is hoped to publish the entire correspondence by arrangement with the other nations concerned as soon as it is complete.
There has been no change of opinion on the part of British representatives, and 1694 certainly not the least wish to avoid publication, which, on the contrary, is earnestly desired.
§ Lord R. CECILCan the right hon. Gentleman give any indication as to the possible time of publication?
§ Mr. SHORTTI am afraid that I cannot. There will be no delay that can be avoided.