§ Mr. MANDER(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make with reference to the position in the Memel territory and the prospects of the formation of a Government responsible to the Landtag?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir Samuel Hoare)I am glad to say that the position in the Memel territory has greatly improved since it was last referred to in this House. As the House will be aware, the recent elections for the Landtag have passed off in a satisfactory atmosphere, and have produced results which are recognised on all sides as accurately representing the wishes of the population. Moreover, the Lithuanian Government have given assurances to the other signatories of the Memel Convention that a Directorate enjoying the confidence of the Landtag will be formed without delay 148 after the elections; and I have no reason to believe that those assurances will not be kept. I think the House will agree that the recent history of this question shows the advantage of His Majesty's Government taking a leading part in international action to secure the integral fulfilment of obligations as an essential condition of good relations between peoples. His Majesty's Government will continue to keep careful watch on the situation at Memel, and will apply the same policy in future, should it become necessary for them to take further action, which I trust will not be the case.