§ 4. Mr. H. G. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Dardanelles Straits Convention is treated as being a part of the Treaty of Lausanne; and what modifications of the latter have been requested of the Turkish Government in exchange for the proposal that the former should be abrogated?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEArticle 23 of the Treaty of Peace with Turkey, signed at Lausanne on 24th July, 1923, states that the parties to the Treaty recognise the principle of freedom of transit and navigation in the Straits as prescribed in the separate Straits Convention signed that clay, which was to have the same force and effect as if it formed part of the Treaty of Peace. Similarly the preamble to the Straits Convention states that the parties to the Convention desire to ensure freedom of transit and navigation in accordance with the principles laid down in Article 23 of the Treaty of Peace. No modifications of the Treaty of Peace have been sought from the Turkish Government.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWould the Noble Lord tell me why we make this very important concession to Turkey, and whether we should not ask them for the recision of some of the concessions we have granted to them?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEFor the simple reason that nothing affecting the Treaty of Peace arises out of these discussions.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSAs the Straits Convention is an annexe to the Treaty of Peace, surely it must be regarded as part of the Treaty of Peace as a whole, and if one part of it is modified, surely other parts should be modified as well?