§ 8. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what nations are being invited to attend the resumed peace conference, at Lausanne; whether the Government of the United States of America has been invited to attend and, if so, with what result; and for what reason the Russian Government was not invited to the resumed conference?
§ Mr. McNEILLNotification of the resumption of the negotiations with Turkey at Lausanne has been sent by the Secretary-General of the Conference to Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Greece, Yougoslavia, Rumania, Belgium, the United States and Turkey. There is every reason to believe that the United States will be represented for the same purpose as on the last occasion. The Russian Government was invited to the original Conference at Lausanne only for the discussions on the future régime of the Straits. Those discussions will not be re-opened, since the Allies and Turkey are agreed upon the terms of the draft Straits Convention. Russia is not therefore being invited to participate in the present meeting at Lausanne.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYHow does the hon. Gentleman defend the invitation to Rumania and the non-invitation to Russia, which is a neighbour to Turkey?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe defence, if required, will be found in the answer I have given.
13. Captain BENNasked the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether the Soviet Government has been officially invited to the Lausanne Conference?
§ Mr. McNEILLI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I have just given to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull.
Captain BENNDoes the Foreign Office think that any stable settlement in the Near East can be accomplished without the agreement of Russia?
§ Mr. McNEILLI do not think it would he very wise for me to express an opinion one way or the other at the present moment.