§ 14. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has taken any objection in the League Council to the proposal of M. Vandervelde that it would be desirable for the Bulgarian Government to amnesty 1985 its political prisoners; and whether he has instructed His Majesty's Minister at Sofia at any time during the last two years to secure just treatment for these political prisoners?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI expressed no opinion for or against a, further amnesty of prisoners by the Bulgarian Government. But in the interests of the League, and from respect for the sovereign rights of its member States, I took exception to any discussion of the purely domestic affairs of a State at the Council table. As regard the second part of the question, His Majesty's Minister at Sofia, under instructions from me, did from time to time offer to the previous Bulgarian Government such advice regarding their political prisoners and opponents as was compatible with respect for the sovereign rights of Bulgaria, and I would remind the right hon. and gallant Gentleman that the present Bulgarian Government, on assuming office in December, 1925, passed a wide amnesty measure whereby no fewer than 7,000 persons benefited.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODSeeing that there are over one thousand political prisoners still in prison in Bulgaria or in internment camps, could the right hon. Gentleman not have avoided putting Great Britain in the uncomfortable position of being the Power to object on this occasion?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir. I could easily have shirked my duty by leaving it to someone else. As a matter of fact, had I been silent, one or other of several members of the Council would have spoken. It is really vital to the success of the League and to its authority that it should not interfere in the internal affairs of different member countries.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the present moment Great Britain is always being charged with backing up these terrorist Governments?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI beg that I may be allowed, at least, to protest against the right hon. and gallant Member's suggestion that the Bulgarian Government is a terrorist Government. He forgets what has passed in Bulgaria, 1986 and overlooks the immense measure of amnesty which the present Government has granted.
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe must not discuss other Governments. We have enough to do with our own.