§ 2. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister on what grounds the Foreign Office have refused to receive the official delegation from tile Government of the Riff now in London, with the purpose of requesting recognition from His Majesty's Government, in view of the fact that the greater part of the Riff has never been under Spanish control and cannot therefore be considered to be in revolt; whether the Spanish Government are negotiating for the purchase of aeroplanes in the United Kingdom for the purpose of extending the present bombing operations against defenceless villages, normal military operations having proved incapable of overcoming the Riff; whether His Majesty's Government can do anything to mediate in this method of warfare; and whether the British representative on the Council of the League of Nations has been instructed to raise this question, with a view to mediation through the League?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe Riff tribes now engaged in fighting Spanish forces in districts which His Majesty's Government have recognised as forming a Spanish sphere of influence in Morocco must be regarded by His Majesty's Government as rebels against a friendly Power, and consequently His Majesty's Government must refuse to recognise or have any dealings with the emissaries of the Riff tribes now in London. I am not aware whether the Spanish Government are now negotiating with private English manufacturers for the purchase of aeroplanes. For the, reasons explained in the first part of my answer, His Majesty's Government do not see their way to intervene, either through the League of Nations or otherwise.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYSeeing that we are the greatest Moslem Power, and not unsuccessful in our deal- 1885 ings with Moslems, could not we offer our good services to see if we cannot help to bring about peace?