§ 4. Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give any information as 979 to the present political and economic situation in Yugoslavia?
§ Sir J. SIMONNo, Sir.
§ Mr. DAVIESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Yugoslavian Govt. have now arrested the leaders of the Croats, Slovenes, and Mussulmans, and that these arrests are in violation of the provisions of the treaty which set up the Yugoslavian State, and in view of the fact that the British Government was a party to that treaty, will he inquire into those arrests?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe question I was asked was the perfectly general question whether I could give any information. I think I must reply by saying "No," and we must remember, after all, "that if we take an undesirable method of interfering with the domestic affairs of a friendly country, that will redound to the injury of the interests of His Majesty's Government, which is deeply concerned with the maintenance of peace and stability in the countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe.
§ Mr. DAVIESWhen the British Government is a party to a treaty that provides rights and privileges for these nations within Yugoslavia, have we no concern at all when the provisions of that treaty are broken?
§ Sir J. SIMONWe have every concern when the provisions of any treaty are broken, but I do not think that that can be dealt with by supplementary questions and answers.