HC Deb 25 February 1924 vol 170 cc28-9
26. Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD - BURY

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state who was first responsible for linking up the question of the settlement of the Jubaland dispute with that of the Dodecanese; and whether, seeing that the cession of these islands is a matter for arrangement between Greece and Italy, he will consider the separation of these two questions in future with a view to the immediate settlement of the Jubaland question with Italy?

The PRIME MINISTER

I find that in concluding with the Italian Government the agreement of April, 1920, regarding Jubaland, Lord Milner made a written reservation in the sense that this agreement could only become effective as part of the general settlement of all the issues raised at the Peace Conference. These issues, as the Italian Government have often been reminded, embrace the question of the Dodecanese, and the Italian Government have for their part recognised that the Treaty which they concluded with Greece on 10th August, 1920, was the result of agreement between the Allies, and that the settlement of the Dodecanese question is not only the concern of Italy and Greece. The hon. and gallant Member must remember that the inhabitants of these islands ethnologically belong to Greece, and that their continued severance from that country is hardly conducive to that general tranquillity which His Majesty's Government have so much at heart. I have been unable as yet to devote time, to a full examination of this intricate matter, but I am now studying the mass of papers that have accumulated round the subject with a view to considering my own policy regarding it.

Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURY

Does the right hon. Gentleman remember the old adage Bis dat qui cito dat? The question of Jubaland refers to a promise and debt of honour which we have owed to Italy since 1915, and which we have not yet carried out?

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

Have the studies of the right hon. Gentleman yet brought him to the point of being able to give me this information: Are the inhabitants of these two parts of the world being consulted in any way as to their future allegiance?

The PRIME MINISTER

With regard to the adage of the hon. and gallant Member I shall remember it when I am reading the papers. My business—and I think that is my only business at the moment—is to see what has been done before and make up my mind from the papers as to what policy I am going to pursue. I shall be glad if I might make an appeal, to hon. Members not to press these things too hardly at the moment, because it is not desirable in reply to supplementary questions to give answers that have not been properly considered.

Forward to