§ 53. Mr. CHARLES BUXTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British representatives on the Central Commission on Rhine Navigation have taken any and, if so, what steps to remove the obstructions placed in the way of free traffic on the Rhine in contravention of the Mannheim Convention of 17th October, 1868, and therefore of Article 354 of the Treaty of Versailles which incorporates the said Convention?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe answer is in the negative, as the French and Belgian Governments have given assurances of 963 their intention to observe the Convention of Mannheim.
§ Mr. BUXTONDoes the statement that they intend to observe it imply that hitherto they have not observed it?
§ Mr. McNEILLThat is exactly the point which has been very much discussed. I am not at all certain whether it has been observed or not.