HC Deb 02 November 1930 vol 134 cc163-4
6. Captain R. TERRELL

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many actual foreign governments are not recognised by His Majesty's Government; what are the reasons in each case; and whether recognition is to be extended to any of them at an early date?

Mr. HARMSWORTH

In view of the length of the reply, perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will allow me to have it printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The reply is as follows:

In Europe the Governments of Foreign States which have not yet been recognised de jure by His Majesty's Government are:

  1. 1. Soviet Russia.
  2. 2. South Russia.
  3. 3. White Russian Republic.
  4. 4. Ukraine.
  5. 5. Latvia.
  6. 6. Esthonia.
  7. 7. Lithuania.
  8. 8. Albania.

The reason for non recognition are, in the case of Soviet Russia, the circumstances in which it came into power and the methods by which it hitherto has maintained itself, and in the case of the South Russian Government, the White Russian Republic and the Ukraine, the indefinite area over which those Governments claim authority and the uncertainty as to their future ability to establish themselves permanently as independent entities.

The Governments of Latvia, Esthonia, and Lithuania have been recognised de facto, but pending the establishment of more normal conditions in those parts, His Majesty's Government do not consider the time has come to recognise them de jure.

As regards Albania, His Majesty's Government have no information leading them to suppose that the Government at Tirana is in a position to exercise effective control over the territory it claims to administer.

In Asia, the territories claimed by the Governments of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan have not yet been settled, and full recognition of these Governments presents, in the circumstances, practical difficulties.

On the American Continent the Bolivian Government has been recognised provisionally, pending its establishment on a constitutional basis. The Mexican Government has not yet been recognised owing to the prolonged disorders in the country and the treatment of British interests by recent administrations.