§ 4. Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Government has signed any Convention regarding the supply of arms to Abyssinia; and if he is satisfied that the terms of the Convention have been carried out?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINHis Majesty's Government have subscribed to the Brussels Act of 1890, of which Articles 8 to 14 are specially relevant to the subject-matter of this question. They have signed, with France and Italy, the tripartite Agreement of 1906 respecting the importation of arms and munitions into Abyssinia, and the Convention of Saint Germain of 1919. The last-named never attained full force, but in 1920 Belgium, France, Great Britain, Italy and Japan agreed among themselves that the protocol attached to the Convention should be regarded by them as applying only to those provisions of the Convention which concerned the prohibited areas specified in Article 6. Abyssinia being one of the prohibited areas, in the view of His Majesty's Government that Convention and Protocol have since been applicable to that country. This was, in effect, recognised by Abyssinia herself on her admission to the League of Nations in 1923, when she undertook to act in conformity with the principles enunciated in the Saint Germain Convention, and, in particular, with the provisions of Article 6 of that Convention.
While they have on their part discharged all the obligations incumbent on them, His Majesty's Government are not satisfied that the terms of the Convention of 1919 have been carried out by all the other parties. They have, therefore, suggested to the Governments of Abyssinia, France and Italy that, as the present régime has not worked smoothly, it might be advantageous to all four to anticipate the general coming into force of the Geneva Convention of 1925, and to apply its provisions to Abyssinia, subject to the concurrence of the other signatories and of the League of Nations. The 1951 Governments of France and Italy have agreed to be represented at a joint Conference of the four Powers to consider whether and how this object can be attained; the Abyssinian Government have not yet given a final reply, but they still have the matter under consideration.
§ Mr. MACLEANIf the Government are not satisfied that the terms of the Convention have been carried out by all countries, can the right hon. Gentleman state whether armaments are being supplied, and from which country, and, if so, whether they are being supplied under Government permits—not necessarily of this Government, but the Governments of other countries?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI could not enter into details of that kind without notice, and, if the hon. Gentleman will allow me, I would much sooner not enter into those details. We proposed a Conference, and I think that that would be a bad preparation for the Conference.
§ Mr MACLEANWhile it may be quite good to enter into a Conference, is it, not the case that at present arms are being supplied to that country, to the knowledge of our Government, and why has no action been taken?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINWe have taken the action of asking the four Powers to join in a Conference, to see how this matter can be dealt with. Two Powers have accepted, and we are still awaiting the reply of Abyssinia.
§ Mr. MACLEANSurely, if some Powers are breaking the Convention, action can be taken against those who have been breaking it?