§ 2. Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now had an opportunity of examining the papers relative to the allegations of Signor Nitti, late Prime Minister of Italy, to the effect that Italy was urged by the Entente Powers to occupy the territory of the Republic of Georgia; and whether he proposes to lay Papers on the subject before the House?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI have seen in a book by Signor Nitti, kindly lent to me by the hon. Gentleman, the statement quoted by the hon. Member. As stated in my reply to him of the 20th instant, there seem to have been informal conversations on the subject, of which no record exists, between the representatives of the Italian Government at the Peace Conference and the then Prime Minister, the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Carnarvon Boroughs (Mr. Lloyd George). The records available are not suitable for publication and would only give a partial and possibly misleading account of what passed.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONAre we, then, to understand from the hon. Gentleman that the then Prime Minster, the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Carnarvon Boroughs (Mr. Lloyd George) did definitely urge the Italian Government to invade and seize the territory of the Republic of Georgia at that time?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI do not think I can really go beyond what I have already said in the answer. It was a question whether, as the British troops were being withdrawn from that district, the Italian troops should take their place or not.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIs it the case that Signor Nitti resisted the urgings of the then Prime Minister, declaring them to be a gross violation of all international law, and that Signor Nitti himself secured the abandonment of the enterprise?
§ Mr. PONSONBYIs not the absence of any record of these negotiations due to the fact that in those days foreign affairs were all conducted at 10, Downing Street, without the knowledge of the Foreign Office?
Captain CROOKSHANKIs there also an absence of any record of the views which the leaders of the Socialist party used to hold about the independence of Georgia which they have now given up?
§ Mr. RILEYAre we then to take it from what the hon. Gentleman has said that the suggestion made was that Georgia should be seized?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI understand the suggestion that was made was that the British troops that were in occupation of the Caucasus at that time should be replaced by Italian troops.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that, as far as we are concerned, we have always declared the right of Georgia to govern herself in her own way?