§ 7. Mr. DAVID MASONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can inform the House as to the prospects of the Council of the League of Nations being called together at an early date to discuss the Italo-Abyssinian dispute?
§ 10. Miss RATHBONEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is proposed, as requested by Abyssinia, to call an early meeting of the Council of the League to deal with the Italo-Abyssinian dispute, and at what date?
§ Sir S. HOAREAt its meeting held on the 25th May, the Council decided to meet if, in default of agreement between the arbitrators for the settlement of the dispute, an understanding should not have been reached by 25th July between these arbitrators as to the selection of the fifth arbitrator, unless the four arbitrators agreed to the extension of this period; the Council also decided to meet to examine the situation if on 25th August the settlement by means of conciliation and arbitration should not have taken place. In view of the above circumstances an early meeting of the Council appears inevitable.
§ 11. Miss RATHBONEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply has been given to the Abyssinian note remonstrating at the withholding of export licences for munitions ordered by Abyssinia; whether, in fact, such licences are being withheld; and whether it is proposed to continue to withhold them, and on what grounds?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe matter is at present under consideration but I hope shortly to be in a position to make an announcement on the subject.
§ Miss RATHBONEIn the event of the League being unable to secure for Abyssinia a settlement of her dispute by peaceful measures, may not her delay in obtaining arms fatally injure her prospects of effectively defending herself?
§ Sir S. HOAREI should prefer not to deal with a hypothetical question. In any case, I have nothing to add at present to the statement that I have just made.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENDoes my right hon. Friend know of any other Power that is permitting the export of arms?
§ 12. Sir MURDOCH McKENZIE WOODasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has received from the Egyptian Government as to possible prejudice to their interests which might follow from recent and future developments in Abyssinia?
§ Sir S. HOARENo representations of the kind referred to by the bon. Member have been received from the Egyptian Government.
§ Sir M. McKENZIE WOODMay we take it that the Egyptian Government do not consider that their interests are 735 likely to be prejudiced by a war and a transfer of sovereignty in Abyssinia?
§ Sir S. HOAREI cannot answer as to the views of the Egyptian Government as they have not expressed them to me.
§ 33. Captain WATERHOUSEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, during the last three months, any certificate for the export of arms to Abyssinia has been refused; and, if so, on what grounds?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLENo licences for the export of arms to Abyssinia have been refused during the last three months.
§ Captain WATERHOUSEAm I to understand that all have been granted that have been applied for?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLETwo have been received, and these are under consideration and have not yet been granted.
§ Captain WATERHOUSEDoes not the delay in these cases cause a differentiation against Abyssinia?
§ Lieut.-Colonel COLVILLEOn a technical point both the applications were out of order.