§ 8. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information concerning the Hirtenberg war material which the Austrian Government undertook to send back to Italy; whether it has been returned to Italy; and, if so, whether a customs certificate was shown by the Austrian Government to French and diplomatic representatives?
§ Sir J. SIMONAccording to my information a considerable proportion of the original consignment of arms sent from Italy into Austria has now been reconditioned, and was recently sent from the Hirtenberg factory to the Austrian Military Arsenal at Kaiserebersdorf near Vienna. I understand that the object of the Austrian Government in deciding on this course is that the military authorities should be responsible for the proper return of the arms. When the arms have been checked by the military authorities at the arsenal they will be returned to Italy. I have no reason to doubt that the Austrian Government will implement their part of the arrangement described in my reply to the right hon. Gentleman, the Leader of the Opposition, on the 21st of February last, an arrangement which, as I informed the hon. Member and the hon. Member for the South Molton Division (Mr. Lambert) on the 22nd of February last, was accepted at the time by the Austrian Government.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman say who, if anybody, is responsible for seeing that the material reaches its proper destination?
§ Sir J. SIMONI understand that the Austrian Government is undertaking the responsibility of protecting the arms.