§ 11. Mr. GARRO JONESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give any explanation of the humanitarian purposes for which the British draft of the Straits Disarmament Convention seeks to reserve right of entry to foreign ships to the Black Sea?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEAs my right hon. Friend stated in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Mr. Liddall) on 6th July, it would not be proper to enter into explanations of detail of the negotiations which are at present taking place at Montreux for the revision of the Straits Convention.
§ Mr. GARRO JONESDoes the Noble Lord realise that this particular phrase has only given rise to amusement on the Continent and has done nothing to enhance the reputation of this Government for sincerity?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEI can assure the hon. Member that the position with regard to this phrase and other aspects of the negotiations will be made clear at the earliest possible moment.
§ 45. Lieut. - Commander FLETCHERasked the Prime Minister whether in view of the importance of concluding a 1642 Dardanelles agreement without delay and as such an agreement cannot be concluded without the assent of Italy to the abrogation of the germane clauses of the Treaty of Lausanne, he will initiate forthwith discussions with those Mediterranean Governments to which we have given guarantees of mutual assistance, with a view to the obstacles in the way of Italy participating in the Montreaux Conference being removed?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)In the opinion of His Majesty's Government there is no reason why the speedy conclusion of a new Straits Convention need be prejudiced in any way by the unilateral and provisional assurances recently given by His Majesty's Government to certain Mediterranean Powers.
§ Mr. THURTLEWill the Prime Minister in the public interest see that the Government do everything possible to effect an early and friendly settlement with Turkey and Russia in regard to this matter?