§ 1. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the serious effects on British interests in Somaliland and the Sudan that any military operations between Italy and Abyssinia would have, the Government will use their utmost endeavours to have the question settled in the terms of existing international treaties?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir John Simon)Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Government have done everything possible since this problem first arose to influence both sides towards an amicable settlement of their differences, and their efforts will be continued.
§ Mr. MANDERIs the question coming before the next meeting of the Council in the middle of April?
§ Sir J. SIMONI cannot say.
§ 2. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action was taken with reference to the action of an Italian military aeroplane, S. O. 4, on 4th November last, flying over the camp of the British Commissioner on the British Somaliland Boundary Commission at Walwal where the Union Jack was hoisted, and training a machine gun on 336 the members of the commission, their staff, and their escort, as observed by Mr. Curle, Captain Taylor, Lieutenant Collingwood, and Corporal Griffiths among the British, and by Abyssinians also?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe misunderstandings which arose following the arrival of the Anglo-Ethiopian Joint Commission at Walwal on the 23rd November were informally discussed in December and January with representatives of the Italian Government, who explained that the action taken by the Italian forces, and in particular the aerial reconnaissance complained of by Colonel Clifford, had been instituted in order to ascertain the local situation and in complete ignorance of the fact that British officers were present with the Ethiopian tribesmen who had approached the wells. In view of these explanations, and in the light of the fact that what had occurred had been due to local misunderstandings, it was agreed that no useful purpose would be served by further inter-Governmental discussions on this subject.
§ Mr. MANDERWould it not be reasonable to ask the Italian Government to act in the same way as she wants Abyssinia to act towards her, to apologise and salute the Flag?
§ Mr. HANNONWould it not be better in the interests of the relationship between Italy and Abyssinia to leave these matters outside the purview of the House of Commons and to discuss them with the Secretary of State privately?