HC Deb 08 April 1925 vol 182 cc2190-2
3. Colonel WEDGWOOD

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether we have received recently, or since authorising the increase in the Bulgarian police forces, any reports or despatches from our representative in Sofia dealing with internal political conditions in Bulgaria; and, if so, whether he will publish them for the information of Members?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

His Majesty's Minister at Sofia, in the discharge of his normal duties, naturally keeps me regularly informed of the political situation in Bulgaria. No useful purpose would be served by the publication of these Papers.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that under similar circumstances in the case of Hungary his predecessor, Lord Curzon, did allow publication of the papers dealing with the White Terror in that country, and if I can produce evidence of similar affairs in Bulgaria to-day, will he reconsider his attitude towards the publication of papers?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

A good many assumptions are contained in the right hon. Gentleman's question. If he likes to put another question on the Paper dealing with further matter, I will, of course, give him an answer, but I must have these reports from our representatives in foreign countries, and if I am to be expected to lay them all, I shall be deprived of the very information which it is desirable that I should receive.

Mr. MACKINDER

In view of the very great importance of these matters, and in view of the fact that the expressed wish of certain hon. Members is to get this information, should not the Members of the House of Commons be entitled to receive this information?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I am, of course, anxious to give the House any information which they desire, and which I think is compatible with the public interest, but if every confidential report which is sent to me is to be claimed as a matter of right by the House of Commons, the only result will be that the Foreign Secretary will cease to receive confidential reports.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

In view of that difficulty, would it not be possible for the right hon. Gentleman to ask our representative in Sofia for a special report on this question?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will be good enough to define more particularly, by communication to me, the question on which he wants information. He has spoken vaguely of a White Terror somewhere else and of what my predecessor did, but if he will say what exactly he wants in the present circumstances, I will consider if there is any information that I can give him.

12. Colonel WEDGWOOD

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he consented to the enrolment by the Bulgarian Government of some of their armed forces for a provisional term, as distinct from the 12 years' basis laid down in the Treaty of Neuilly; if so, how many men were enrolled; were His Majesty's Government informed as to the object of the enrolment; and did he make any representations as to the use of these men for the suppression of the Agrarian and Communist parties?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The request of the Bulgarian Government was referred by the Organ of Liquidation in Bulgaria to the Allied Military Commission at Versailles, who have recommended its acceptance to the Ambassadors' Conference. The decision of the Conference has not yet been announced. The number to be enrolled is 3,600 men for a short period. As regards the last two parts of the question, the Bulgarian Government informed the Organ of Liquidation that their reason for the request was apprehen- sion of internal disorder, and undertook to use these troops solely for preventive purposes.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

May I ask when these military representatives in Paris recommended this increase in the force of Bulgaria, and whether His Majesty's Government will withhold their assent to the augmentation until they have a definite report of what is going on in Bulgaria at the present time?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I cannot, without notice, say the date exactly when the recommendation was made, but I think it was within the last fortnight. I am content to leave the matter in the hands of the Ambassadors' Conference.

Mr. MACKINDER

Would it be possible to get to know whether there is any connection between this question and the report of the Ambassadors as stated in the reply to Question No. 3?

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