§ 46. Lord APSLEYasked the Prime Minister whether the occupation of Georgia by the Union of Soviet Republics is recognised by His Majesty's Government or the League of Nations; and whether the right to occupy this country was acquired by treaty or as a mandate from the League of Nations?
§ Mr. PONSONBYAs the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Sir A. Sinclair) was informed on the 18th February last, His Majesty's Government recognise the authority of the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as extending to Georgia. I naturally cannot speak for the League of Nations, nor do His Majesty's Government feel entitled to pronounce on the derivation of that authority, but the Government of the Union certainly hold no mandate from he League.
§ 49. Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD - BURYasked the Prime Minister whether the Treaty of 7th May, 1920, is still in force by which Russia recognised the independence of Georgia; whether it is still the policy of His Majesty's Government that the recognition of the Soviet Government implied also the recognition of the independence of Georgia; and whether, in view of the reprisals and massacres that are now taking place in the Caucasus, he will take steps to prevent the extermination of this race by insisting that the safety and independence of Georgia must be a condition of his support of the Russian Treaty?
§ Mr. PONSONBYThe juridical position of the Treaty of 1920 is a matter primarily for the two parties concerned, who, it is understood, hold divergent views on the subject. As regards the second part of the question I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply 310 to-day to the Noble Lord the Member for Southampton (Lord Apsley). As regards the third part, I have already stated in the House that the position of Georgia is essentially a question of the internal politics of the Soviet Union; and, as His Majesty's Government have thus no locus standi, the action here suggested might, I regret to say, aggravate rather than improve that position.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs the Under-Secretary aware that no fewer than 9,000 Georgians have already been executed—[HON. MEMBERS: "HOW do you know?"]—and will not the Prime Minister carry out the promise made by him and the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Labour party last year to the Georgian Republic?
§ Mr. MILLSBefore the Under-Secretary replies, may I ask him if his attention has been called to a statement by the Italian Consul at Tiflis to the effect that the reported outbreak was put down by the local people without the aid of troops, that order has been restored since 1st September, that there have been no massacres, and that the 9,000 is merely imagination? [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer! answer!"]
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe cannot debate the matter at Question Time.