§ 3. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, as the Dandurand proposals are in their opinion the best means available to minorities to secure their protection, he will say whether in the committee of three now meeting he means to support the Canadian proposal or to accept the views of the French Government and Little Entente on this matter?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe right hon. and gallant Gentleman is mistaken in supposing that there is agreement on the Dandurand proposals among those interested in minorities; but my right hon. Friend feels that it would be discourteous both to the Committee and to the Council for him to make any personal pronouncement on the questions at issue now that the Committee is sitting to study the question.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODI am sorry that the Secretary of State is not here. I should like to ask two questions: (1) will this matter be decided at Madrid in the early days of June, immediately after the General Election; and (2) can the right hon. Gentleman avoid committing this country in June, and thereby save the rights of any successor to carry through a policy more in accordance with the wishes of Canada and the Minorities, and break with the policy of supporting the French view in this matter?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe first question asked by the right hon. and gallant Member does not arise out of the question upon the Order Paper; it is completely outside it. As regards the second question, there is an almost similar one which stands upon the Paper in the name of the hon. Member for Northampton (Mr. Malone).
§ Colonel WEDGWOODAlthough it does not strictly arise out of the original question, may I ask whether the Committee of three which is now sitting will report before the meeting of the Council of the League at Madrid, and will they, when they meet at Madrid, commit this country definitely, or is the matter to be left over to a further meeting of the Council?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI do not want to avoid any questions put by the right hon. and gallant Member, but I would point out that the only point raised by his question was about the Dandurand proposals, and whether we accepted those proposals or some other proposals. I have answered that question. I should be glad to have notice of any further question regarding the particular matter referred to by the right hon. and gallant Member.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I press the other point as to the Dandurand proposals versus the Little Entente proposals? Am I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that the Minorities were not in favour of the Dandurand proposals? Is he not aware that the Council of the Minorities are definitely supporting the Dandurand proposals and that, in fact, they have had something to do with the drafting of them? What other body pretending to represent the Minorities differs from this Council of the Minorities and is not behind the Dandurand proposals?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONWhat I said in my answer was that there was no general agreement in regard to the Dandurand proposals. My right hon. Friend is not here to-day. He is actually now sitting on the Committee dealing with the whole of this matter.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs he committing us?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe right hon. and gallant Member has put five supplementary questions already.
4. Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in view of the volume of evidence concerning minorities questions in all parts of the world which has been placed before the Minorities Committee, he will recommend the advisability of postponing any final decision on these questions from the meeting of the Council of the League of Nations on 10th June until the Assembly meets in September?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI think the hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The committee of three is not competent to examine evidence in regard to the specific grievances of minorities or to recommend means of redressing them. The Committee is solely concerned with the problem of improving the procedure whereby questions relating to minorities come before, and are dealt with by, the Council of the League. The action taken on the Committee's Report will, I presume, depend on the nature and scope of the recommendations made.
Mr. MALONEAre we to take it that the decision on the procedure to be taken by the Minorities to air their grievances will be come to on the 10th June, or not?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI have said in my answer that it entirely depends upon the nature and scope of the recommendations.
§ Mr. RILEYIs it the intention of the Government to examine the evidence before the committee of three before a decision is arrived at in the matter, and can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Government have made up their minds?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs the committee of three which is now sitting taking any evidence from the Minorities, are 1532 they aware of the desire of the Minorities, and are they aware that Madrid is considered the worst possible place where this question could be decided—a place where there is no free Press?