§ 9. Commander BELLAIRSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Spanish 1718 Government is opposing the proposal to set up a casino at Tangier on the lines of the gambling establishment at Monte Carlo, and that the considered reasons state that the opposition is based on moral grounds, proximity to the Spanish zone, and contrary to the purpose for which international status was conferred; what instructions have been given to the British representative; and whether the proximity of the garrison and fleet at Gibraltar has been fully considered?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINArticle 52 of the Tangier Convention provides that games of chance shall be forbidden in the Tangier zone and that this prohibition shall be absolute except on a decision by unanimous vote of the Committee of Control. The Spanish representative on the Committee of Control has intimated that his Government are opposed to the establishment of a casino at Tangier, and in the circumstances the proposal clearly cannot be adopted. Should it prove necessary to give instructions to the British representative, account will of course be taken of the considerations to which the hon. and gallant Member refers.
§ Commander BELLAIRSBefore a decision is taken, will instructions be given to the British representative; and is my right, hon. Friend aware that in the newspapers it has been stated that the British Government instructed their representative to support the proposal?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThat is not accurate. I think there were instructions at one time, to the British representative, that if the Committee were unanimously in favour of the proposal, he was not to oppose it.