HC Deb 11 July 1923 vol 166 cc1321-2
3. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is yet in a position to make a statement on the result of the negotiations for peace with Turkey at Lausanne; and when is it expected that the evacuation of Constantinople and the Dardanelles by the Allied troops will commence?

10. Sir WALTER de FRECE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can make any official statement as to the exact outcome of the peace negotiations with Turkey at Lausanne, and more especially the points which have been purposely left over for subsequent settlement; and whether the general outlines of the settlement arrived at are approved by all the Balkan Powers?

12. Sir HARRY BRITTAIN

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has official information as to the result of the peace negotiations with Turkey, and when the Treaty is to be signed?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Ronald MacNeill)

The present position at Lausanne is that the semi-official meetings which have taken place since Saturday have enabled an agreement to be reached in principle between the delegations of the inviting Powers and the Turkish delegation. The experts have been requested to reduce to a final form the drafts prepared on certain subjects. But until these drafts have been agreed upon by the Conference, and all outstanding questions are thus formally and definitely disposed of, including negotiations with certain of the Balkan States which are not yet concluded, I cannot state either when the Treaty will be signed, or when the evacuation of Turkish territory by the Allied troops will begin.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Is it not a fact, as stated in the Press, that when Angora has ratified this Treaty, or consented to it, the evacuation will commence within six weeks after that?

Mr. McNEILL

I think the actual terms have been agreed upon, but I cannot make a definite statement.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

May we take it that, following the precedent of other Treaties, this Treaty will be brought before this House before its ratification?

Mr. McNEILL

That is a question which should be put to the Prime Minister, not to me.