§ 32. Mr. CHARLES BUXTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Inter-Allied Rhine-land High Commission is exercising jurisdiction in the territory newly occupied by the French military authorities between the Mainz and Coblenz bridgeheads, and between the Coblenz and Cologne bridge heads, on the right bank of the Rhine; and, if so, under what provision of the Treaty of Versailles or of the Rhineland Agreement it is exercising such jurisdiction?
§ Mr. McNEILLOn the instructions of the French and Belgian Governments, French troops on 25th February occupied the strips of territory lying between the Mainz and Coblenz bridgeheads and the Coblenz and Cologne bridgeheads. The High Commission subsequently declared this territory to be under their own authority, but His Majesty's High Commissioner took no part in and disclaimed all responsibility for that decision. His Majesty's Government are advised that under no provision of the Treaty of Versailles or of the Rhineland Agreement can the High Commission claim to exercise jurisdiction over the territory in 15 question. The attention of the French Government has been called to the matter.
§ Mr. BUXTONIn view of that answer, will His Majesty's representative on the Rhineland Commission be instructed to protest against this unlawful extension?
§ Mr. McNEILLI cannot say whether he will or will not.
§ 69. Major Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIRasked the Prime Minister whether the ordinances of the Inter-Allied Rhineland High Commission, from which the British representative on the Commission has dissented, are operative in the British zone of the occupied territory of Germany?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe answer is in the affirmative.