§ 68. Mr. PERKINSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any arrangements have been made to evacuate British residents in Abyssinia in the event of war breaking out?
§ Mr. EDENThe whole question of the safety of British subjects in Abyssinia has been engaging the close attention of His Majesty's Government for some time past, and my right hon. Friend is in active consultation on the subject with His Majesty's Minister at Addis Ababa.
§ Mr. PERKINSIs my right hon. Friend aware that during the troubles in Afghanistan in 1927 and 1928 between 500 and 600 British nationals were removed by means of large aircraft, and, in view of that fact, does he not consider it, advisable that certain British aircraft should be drafted to Aden or the Sudan in order to carry out an evacuation in this case on similar lines if that should be necessary?
§ 69. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the French or any other Government were informed beforehand of the proposed cession of British territory to Abyssinia with a view to a, settlement of the Italo-Ethiopian dispute; and whether it was intended at a later stage that the matter should have been brought before the Council of the League of Nations for approval?
§ Mr. EDENThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, but on this point I would refer the hon. Member to the last part of the reply which I gave to a question put by my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Sir P. Hurd) on 4th July. As regards the 495 second part, I have no doubt that appropriate steps would have been taken to keep the Council informed.
§ Mr. MANDERDo I understand from that that no prior information whatever was given to the French Government, and is that consistent with the Stresa Agreement?