§ 5. Sir ROBERT TASKERasked the Seretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action has been taken by the Council of the League of Nations in connection with the following communications from the Italian Embassy, and designated: official No. C63.M22. 1936 VII, dated 28th January, 1936; official No. C104.M45. 1936 VII, dated 10th March, 1936; official No. C123.M62. 1936 VII, dated 19th March, 1936; and has he called the attention of His Majesty's Government to the documents in which the Italian Government give details of Abyssinian barbarity?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs regards the first part of the question, I would 7 refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on 22nd April last in answer to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton East (Mr. Mander), and the hon. and gallant Member for Nuneaton (Lieut.-Commander Fletcher) showing the action taken by the League of Nations with regard to the alleged violations of the laws of war on either side during the recent campaign in Abyssinia. As regards the second part of the question, the communications were circulated by the League of Nations to His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom for their information.
Mr. VYVYAN ADAMSAs regards the second part of the question, can the right hon. Gentleman tell us on how many occasions the Ethiopians used gas?
Miss RATHBONEIs it not the case that the Committee of Jurists reported a large number of authorised mass atrocities by Italian airmen and a relatively insignificant number of cases of unauthorised atrocities by Ethiopians?
§ The PRIME MINISTERPerhaps the hon. Lady will put that question down.
§ 6. Mr. LEACHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total receipts paid, or payable, by the Italian Government to the Suez Canal Company since the beginning of the transport of troops, munitions, gas tanks, etc., to East African ports?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI regret that the information desired is not available.
§ Mr. LEACHCan the right hon. Gentleman say the date when I can put a further question on the subject?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe hon. Member can put down a question at any time, but the Suez Canal Company is a private company, and we have no means of compelling them to give information.
§ Mr. THORNEAs the British Government have the larger number of shares in the company, surely there is some means of getting this information?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe have no power of compulsion.
§ Sir PERCY HARRISDo not the Suez Canal Company publish complete figures for each month of the number of persons who go through and their receipts?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI will look into that. If it is so, it might provide an answer to the question.
§ Mr. LEACHWill the right hon. Gentleman try to get this information if I put a further question to him?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am always anxious to give information, but I do not know how this information can be obtained unless it is in tile way suggested by the hon. Member for South-West Bethnal Green (Sir P. Harris).
§ 11. Miss WILKINSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the proclamation of annexation of Abyssinia by Italy, it is the intention of the Government not to regard as rebels those subjects of the present empire who maintain resistance to Italian annexation?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI presume the hon. Member is referring to those Abyssinians who make take refuge in British territory while still under arms. So far as these are concerned, it is not proposed to treat them in any other way than has been done in the past.
§ Miss WILKINSONI am afraid that the right hon. Gentleman has misunderstood my question. I was not referring to those who might have taken refuge in British territory, but to those remaining in their own territory and who are continuing the struggle against Italian annexation?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think that is a matter for His Majesty's Government.
§ Commander LOCKER-LAMPSONAre these loyalists in Abyssinia not to have the support of His Majesty's Government?
§ Miss WILKINSONMay I refer the right hon. Gentleman to his own answer to a question concerning Manchuria earlier this afternoon, when he stated that they were still recognised as Chinese subjects? Is the same privilege to be extended to the Abyssinians as His Majesty's Government now extend to the Chinese over whom the Japanese claim sovereignty?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI find it rather difficult to understand what the hon. Lady meant in this question. I am obliged to her for her supplementary question. In regard to the position inside Abyssinia, it is, of course, one of extreme complexity, and one that must be dealt with by the League of Nations. It is not one with which we can deal as a Government alone. I thought she was alluding to Abyssinian soldiers who got out of Abyssinia into British territory.
§ 13. Mr. A. HENDERSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government that the Emperor of Ethiopia is to be treated according to the rules of international law relating to neutrality or as the head of a State which is a Member of the League of Nations entitled to the protection of the League Covenant?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe hon. Member will recall that my right hon. Friend stated on 4th May that the Emperor had informed His Majesty's Minister at Addis Ababa that he had renounced the direction of affairs. The personal position of His Majesty thus raises issues of considerable complexity which must be the subject of careful consideration.
§ Mr. HENDERSONIs it not a fact that the Foreign Secretary told the House the other day that the Emperor was expected, as long as he remained in Palestine, not to participate in the direction of hostilities in Abyssinia? Is it not a fact that this Government, as well as other States Members of the League, are equally interested with Abyssinia in resisting this aggression? That being the fact, is it not desirable that, so far from putting obstacles in the way of the Emperor, he should be afforded every assistance for dealing with the present situation in his own country?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think the supplementary questions put by the hon. Member show what extreme complexity there is in the situation. He may depend upon it that the British Government will examine that with very great care, and undoubtedly it is a matter which concerns the whole League of Nations.
§ Commander LOCKER-LAMPSONMay I ask which of the two Emperors we are to recognise?
§ Mr. HENDERSONWill the Government resist any suggestion that the rules of international law relating to neutrality which have hitherto applied in such cases shall not be utilised to restrain the activities of the Emperor?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe shall try to pursue whatever may be the honourable course.
§ 14. Mr. HENDERSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government will recommend the League Council to allow the Ethiopian Government to participate through its representatives in the forthcoming deliberations at Geneva despite the present military situation in Ethiopia?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Ethiopian Government are represented at Geneva, and I see no reason to anticipate that their representatives will not be listened to.
§ Mr. HENDERSONMay I take it from that answer that, as far as the British Government are concerned, the authorised representatives of the Abyssinian Government will be allowed the same facilities for representing their country's interests at Geneva as was the case up to the apparent annexation of their country as announced by Mussolini?
§ Brigadier-General Sir HENRY CROFTIs this not purely and simply a matter for the League of Nations, and would it not be fatal for this country to lay down decisions before the League of Nations?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have given the answer to the question, and I prefer myself not to draw any deductions from it.
§ Mr. T. JOHNSTONWould the right hon. Gentleman not at least be prepared to recommend the League of Nations to give the Emperor his money back?
§ 16. Mr. COCKSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the statements of the South African Prime Minister, Dr. Hertzog, and by General Smuts, in support of the continuation of sanctions against Italy; and whether, in deciding upon the policy to be pursued by the British Government at Geneva, he will take into consideration the views expressed by these leading members of the Government of the Union of South Africa?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe reply to both parts of the question is Yes, Sir.
§ Mr. COCKSWill the right hon. Gentleman pay as much attention to the views of these Empire soldier statesmen as he does to English political runaway rabbits?
§ 18. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can inform the House as to the approximate amount of oil supplied to Italy during recent months from British and Russian sources, respectively?
§ The SECRETARY for MINES (Captain Crookshank)No official information in regard to these sources of supply to Italy is available later than that for the year 1935 published in Command Paper 5094.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONCould the hon. and gallant Gentleman inform the House whether the oil supplied from British sources includes the oil supplied by subsidiary corporations to the Anglo-Iranian, such as the Anglo-Egyptian Corporation?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKNot without notice, but perhaps it would interest the right hon. Gentleman to know that the quantity of oil of British origin is insignificant, that is to say, from Trinidad, India or the British East Indies.
§ Mr. SHINWELLWhy does the hon. and gallant Gentleman say he cannot give information in respect to British supplies of oil when the Foreign Secretary stated the other day in the course of the Debate that we supplied 4 per cent. of the oil now being used by the Italians in Abyssinia?
§ Captain HAROLD BALFOURCould this question not be decided by the Leader of the Opposition undertaking another continental mission on foreign affairs in order to ensure continuity of policy?
§ 19. Mr. GARRO-JONESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Legation at Addis Ababa is still under military guard; and, if not, who is responsible for the protection of British subjects from violence?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. But primary responsibility for the maintenance of order in Addis Ababa now rests with the Power which is in military occupation of that place.
§ Mr. GARRO-JONESCan the Prime Minister assure the House that however much it may be necessary to recognise the de facto position of the Italian command in Abyssinia, he will take no step which will give legal or de jure recognition to their authority there?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs this brings up a very wide question, I am not prepared to go into it in answer to a question.
§ Commander BOWERIn view of the urgency of this matter, would it not be advisable to supplement the military guard at Addis Ababa by sending out the well-known regiments, Attlee's artillery, Dalton's dragoons and Lansbury's lancers?
§ 20. Mr. GARRO-JONESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will specify the Government to whom Sir Sidney Barton is now accredited; and whether His Majesty's Government propose to withdraw their Minister from Addis Ababa?
§ The PRIME MINISTERSir Sidney Barton is accredited to the Ethiopian Government. I can make no statement with regard to the second part of the question.
§ Mr. GARRO-JONESWhen the right hon. Gentleman says that Sir Sidney Barton is accredited to the Ethiopian Government, is he referring to the group of Ministers to whom the Emperor delegated his authority, or does the Emperor still constitute a part of that Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe hon. Member asked me to whom Sir Sidney Barton was accredited. He was accredited to the Ethiopian Government. As the hon. Members knows, the position now is exceedingly complicated. I should not like to answer to whom he is accredited at this moment.
Mr. GARR0-JONESIf he is still accredited to the Ethiopian Government on the authority of the Prime Minister, is not the Prime Minister able to state who the Ethiopian Government are?
§ The PRIME MINISTERPerhaps the hon. Member will be good enough to put that question on the Paper.
§ 21. Miss WILKINSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Emperor of Abyssinia made any application to the British Government for permission to come direct to London from Djibuti; whether it was the British Government who decided he must go to Palestine; and what was the reason for this?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIf the hon. Lady will refer to the very full statement made by my right hon. Friend on 4th May, she will find that the arrangement to give the Emperor and his family passage from Jibuti in His Majesty's Ship "Enterprise" was made in accordance with a desire which His Majesty had expressed to His Majesty's Minister at Addis Ababa to proceed to Palestine. After the voyage had begun, the Emperor inquired whether it would be possible to convey him direct to England instead of landing at Haifa, but it was not found possible on practical grounds to make this alteration.
§ Miss WILKINSONWas one of those practical grounds which made it impossible the desire of His Majesty's Government to avoid popular demonstrations in favour of the Abyssinians?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is exactly the kind of idea that would come to the mind of a critic of the Government, but there is not a word of truth in it. I do not think the hon. Lady quite realises the position. The offer of a passage in one of His Majesty's cruisers was a special act of courtesy, which we were very glad to pay and very happy to be able to accord, but it entailed a good deal of inconvenience to keep a ship of that class from her normal duties, and I say that it was impracticable, having detached her for a week from her duties, to change the programme still further. It will be remembered, moreover, that there were also on board the Empress and her family and suite, and they were definitely anxious to take up residence in Palestine. Had it been possible, had we had an unlimited number of cruisers, we might have done more, but I shall look forward with some confidence to the hon. Lady supporting a Motion for more cruisers.
§ Miss WILKINSONWhile saying that I should be charmed to support cruisers 14 for the purposes of peace and conveyance, may I ask whether we are to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's answer that if the Emperor desires to come to London, this Government will be graciously pleased to receive him?
§ 23. Sir FRANK SANDERSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that sanctions were imposed upon Italy by the League of Nations as a deterrent against the aggressor and in order to shorten the Italo-Abyssinian war, that this war has now come to an end, and in view of the dangers of maintaining sanctions as a punishment, he will, at the forthcoming meeting of the Council of the League of Nations, propose the withdrawal of sanctions?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have nothing to add to the statements made on behalf of His Majesty's Government in the course of last Wednesday's Debate.
§ Sir F. SANDERSONHas my right hon. Friend considered that the League's policy of economic sanctions is forcing the Governments of the world into a policy of economic nationalism?
§ 47. Lieut.-Commander FLETCHERasked the Prime Minister whether he will instruct the British High Commissioner to ascertain from the Emperor of Ethiopia who are the individuals now comprising the Ethiopian Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERSo far as His Majesty's Government are aware, the constitution of the Ethiopian Cabinet is identical with that existing prior to the departure of the Emperor, with the exception of the Minister for Foreign Affairs who accompanied His Majesty, while the Minister for War was recently killed in action.
§ 48. Lieut.-Commander FLETCHERasked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to take any steps at Geneva to ensure that, as a result of the issue of the Italo-Ethiopian war, Italy shall not recruit or conscript the Ethiopian native population for Italian military purposes?
§ The PRIME MINISTERHis Majesty's Government have no information that any such action is contemplated by the Italian Government.
§ 49. Mr. GARRO-JONESasked the Prime Minister whether the instructions to the British delegate at the forthcoming meeting of the League of Nations cover the recognition of Ethiopian representatives thereat; and whether, for their part, His Majesty's Government are prepared to accept any representatives who may be appointed by the group of Ministers to whom the Emperor delegated the de jure government of Ethiopia?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo special instructions have been issued. The United Kingdom representative will certainly not oppose the hearing of any Ethiopian representatives whom the Council may be prepared to accept in that capacity.