§ 1. Mr. ELLIS SMITHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will inform the House as to the attitude of the French Government towards the proposed abandonment of sanctions; and whether they desired to abandon them unconditionally or with reservations?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Viscount Cranborne)The attitude of the French Government towards the proposed abandonment of sanctions was made clear in the communique issued in Paris on 19th June, in which it was stated that the French Government, having been informed of the position as regards the question of sanctions, considered that the existing circumstances tended in favour of accepting their removal. The French representative on the Co-ordination Committee agreed to the proposal, which the committee decided on 6th July to submit to the various Governments concerned, in which it was proposed that the Governments of the members of the League of Nations should abrogate, on 15th July next, the restrictive measures taken by them in conformity with the committee's proposals last autumn. He made no condition or reservation.
§ Mr. H. G. WILLIAMSAre the French Government a Socialist Government?
§ Mr. THORNENo, they are a combination, like yours.
§ 16. Mr. RILEYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Government intend to oppose or acquiesce in the illegal conquest of Abyssinia by Italy?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for the Combined English Universities (Miss Rathbone) on 22nd June, and to that given by me to the hon. Member for East. Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) on 1st July, to which I have nothing to add.
§ 17. Mr. RILEYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the question of the conquest of Abyssinia by Italy was discussed at the recent meeting of the Council of the League of Nations at Geneva; and, if so, what was the attitude taken by His Majesty's Government and what decision was agreed to?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEThe question of the conquest of Abyssinia by Italy was not discussed at the recent meeting of the Council, but at the Assembly. In the preamble to the recommendation passed by the Assembly on 4th July, it was stated that the Assembly remained firmly attached to the principles of the Covenant, which were also expressed in other diplomatic instruments, such as the declaration of the American States dated 3rd August, 1932, excluding the settlement of territorial questions by force. In favour of this recommendation, the United Kingdom Delegation voted, together with 43 other Delegations. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the recommendation.
§ Viscount CRANBORNEThe terms of the League's recommendation make it clear that there has been no recognition of Italy's annexation of Abyssinia at the present Assembly.
18. Mr. VYVYAN ADAMSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the reason for the additional expenditure last year in connection with the movements of the Navy in the Mediterranean and with the drafting of troops to Egypt and the western desert?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEI would refer my hon. Friend to my statement on this point during the Debate in the House on 24th February. There is nothing which I can add to that statement.
§ Mr. MANDERIn view of the fact that we now know that the Government were never prepared to risk a single ship, why were they sent there at all?