§ 65. Mr. LECKIEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, what steps he is taking to protect the rights of Egypt with regard to the head waters of the Blue Nile recently occupied by Italian troops?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Viscount Cranborne)The rights of Egypt, as of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan and His Majesty's Government, are fully protected by existing agreements with both Abyssinia and Italy.
§ 68. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider the advisability of informing the French Government that unless it is willing to co-operate effectively in the suppression of Italian aggression in Abyssinia, Great Britain will no longer seek to maintain a collective system which operates only in selected cases, and that she will leave the League of Nations and denounce the Locarno Agreements?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a similar question asked by him on 8th April, and to the reply given yesterday by my right hon. Friend to a question by the hon. Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Cocks), to which I have nothing to add.
§ Mr. MANDERDoes the Noble Lord appreciate that the suggestion in the question represents the view of the vast majority of the people of this country?
§ Mr. COCKSIn considering this matter will the Noble Lord take into consideration the fact that the Italians have now declared or threatened unrestricted air warfare against the civilian population of Abyssinia, and can we have anything to do with these descendants of the Borgias?
§ Mr. HOLDSWORTHWill the Noble Lord assure the House that whatever may be the outcome of the present dispute the Government will try to make the League of Nations effective?