§ 68. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action it is proposed to take with reference to the request made by the Ethiopian Government in a note dispatched to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations, on 19th June, asking the Council to designate immediately neutral observers to go to Ethiopian territory and inspect the frontier districts, promising these observers all aid and assistance necessary for the purpose of investigating the situation actually existing on the frontier and for making an inquiry into recent incidents; and whether the Government will propose that the Council shall meet immediately to act on this request as a matter of procedure under paragraph 2 of Article 5 of the Covenant?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe request of the Ethiopian Government to which the hon. Member refers has only recently been received from the Secretary-General of the League of Nations, and I have not yet had an opportunity of studying it fully. I should prefer therefore to make no statement at present in regard to it.
§ Mr. MANDERIs not this a very reasonable request, with important precedents behind it; and could not we take 1274 certain provisional action in accordance with the precedent in similar cases?
§ Sir S. HOAREWhether it be a reasonable request or not, I should prefer to make no statement about it at present.