§ 2. Mr. PONSONBYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there exists any understanding, tacit or explicit, between His Majesty's Government and Italy in pursuance of which His Majesty's Government have assured the Italian Government of the support 356 of Great Britain for its political, economic, or diplomatic claims in various or any international fields?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir; there is no tacit or explicit understanding to support Italian claims except in respect of agreements regarding which papers have been laid before the House.
§ Mr. MOSLEYWas the Albanian question discussed during the meeting of the right hon. Gentleman and Signor Mussolini at Leghorn, and did the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance of support to the project subsequently embodied in the Treaty of Tirana?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe subject of Albania was mentioned, in passing, on that occasion. Signor Mussolini said to me then, as he has said to me both before and since, that the policy of Italy in no way menaced the integrity or independence of Albania, which it was intended to protect.
§ Mr. MOSLEYDid the right hon. Gentleman approve of Signor Mussolini's statement of his policy towards Albania?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir. I entirely approved of that statement that it was the object of the Italian Government to preserve the integrity of Albania.
§ Mr. MOSLEYDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that the Treaty of Tirana has preserved that integrity?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI think that is a question which can hardly be dealt with suitably at Question Time. If I may be permitted to say so, it is not very convenient to put that question without notice. I am not called upon, I think, to make observations on the Treaty of Tirana but I might be called upon to say had I notice of its terms before it was signed. I had not.