§ 8. Mr. NOEL BUXTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is prepared, in the interests of European peace, to recommend to the Council of the League of Nations that a commission be appointed to investigate the grievances of Hungary in respect of its minorities in the succession States, with a view to putting an end to the dangerous agitation which is now being made against the provisions of the Treaty of Trianon?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir. I am not prepared to take the course suggested by the right hon. Gentleman.
§ Mr. BUXTONDoes not the Foreign Secretary consider that the question is very urgent, so urgent that some action ought to be taken by the Government?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThere is a proper procedure if a minority have complaints to make, by which they can approach the Council, and so any State can also approach the Council, if it thinks the circumstances proper; but the suggestion for a Commission of Inquiry, such as the right hon. Gentleman proposes, would, I think, lead to greater difficulty and trouble than already exists.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWould it not be more proper that we should defer the consideration of this question until the House has the inestimable advantage of the presence of the hon. Member for Thanet (Mr. Harmsworth)?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat cannot possibly arise out of the question.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that he and the whole of his party voted against a Motion of mine to reject the Treaty of Trianon, and does not that lay the responsibility on his party, of which he is one of the leaders, to take steps to try to remedy an admitted injustice?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir. I am quite clear in my own mind that nobody serves the interests of peace by proposing the revision of Treaties so recently concluded.