§ 2. Mr. PURBRICKasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the complete failure of sanctions imposed by the League of Nations to effect their object and which only resulted in prolonging the war between Italy and Abyssinia, with consequent increased loss of life and treasure to both sides, he will take immediate steps to withdraw all the sanctions imposed by Great Britain?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI would refer my hon. Friend to the statements made on behalf of His Majesty's Government in the course of last Wednesday's Debate, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Mr. PURBRICKIn view of the fact that sanctions were imposed with the object of preventing war and that the war is now finished, will the Government state what is their justification for carrying on sanctions at the present time?
§ Mr. SHINWELLWill the right hon. Gentleman state what is the policy of the Conservative party in this matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat does not arise on this question, otherwise I would be glad to deal with it.
§ 3. Mr. COCKSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the policy of Italy regarding the training of Abyssinian levies and the despatch of such levies to Libya; and, if not, whether he will make inquiries?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Italian Government have denied a Press report which credited them with the intention of raising an army of 200,000 men in the occupied territory of Ethiopia. Otherwise I have no information on the subject, and I can add nothing to the reply which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Nuneaton (Lieut.-Commander Fletcher) on Monday last.
§ Mr. COCKSIn view of the importance of this matter to the British Empire, especially in the Middle East, will the right hon. Gentleman not take this very seriously and, get all the information about it that it is in his power to get?
§ The PRIME MINISTEROf course, it is a matter to which we must devote our best attention.
§ Mr. MANDERWill the right hon. Gentleman not attach too much importance to the denial, in view of recent events?
§ 6. Captain GUNSTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present position with regard to the Bank of Ethiopia and its funds; and whether His Majesty's Government have made or propose to make any representations to the Italian Government on the matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have no information in regard to the present position of the bank and its funds.
§ Captain GUNSTONHas the attention of my right hon. Friend been called to the Press account stating that the officers of the bank were compelled to make submission to Marshal Badoglio and to place the funds of the bank at the Italian Government's disposal, and will he make further inquiries?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe have no information.
Mr. J. J. DAVIDSONDoes the right hon. Gentleman suggest that no arrangements have been made by the British Government with regard to the Emperor of Abyssinia's private funds?
§ 8. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present position with regard to the use of the Jibuti railway; and whether, in accordance with international conventions, this will be refused to the Italian Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI understand that the railway services from Jibuti to Addis Ababa are functioning normally, but I have no information as to whether use is being made of the railway by Italian troops in the occupied part of Abyssinia.
§ Mr. MANDERSurely the use of this railway having been consistently denied to the Abyssinians by the French, it is not now going to be handed over to the Italians? Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to make some inquiries into that point?
§ 11. Mr. COCKSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will inform Signor Mussolini that His Majesty's Government refuse to recognise any act of annexation of Abyssinia by Italy?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI would remind the hon. Member that His Majesty's Government have repeatedly stated that their policy in the Italo-Abyssinian dispute is based upon collective decision by the League of Nations.
§ Mr. COCKSSurely the Government have no doubt at all on this particular point, as to whether they will recognise the annexation by Italy?
§ 12. Mr. COCKSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of recent events, His Majesty's 358 Government will propose the expulsion of Italy from the League, and will intimate to the League that, failing such expulsion, Britain will herself withdraw and regain her freedom of action?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid that I do not share the hon. Member's views as to the advisability of the course of action which he proposes.
§ Mr. COCKSSurely if these poisoners are allowed to remain in the League, the League is a hypocrisy and a sham?
§ Mr. RADFORDWill my right hon. Friend consider the possibility of explaining privately to the hon. Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Cocks) how very harmful such questions are?
§ 14. Mr. A. HENDERSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Abyssinian question was the subject of unofficial discussion or conversation or in any way referred to or mentioned at any of the meetings, official or unofficial, between Signor Mussolini or any other Italian delegate and the British delegates, or any of them, at Stresa in April, 1935; and, if so, whether he will inform the House of the terms of any such discussion, etc.?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI would remind the hon. Member that on 1st May, 1935, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, East (Mr. Mander) the then Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs stated that informal conversations took place at Stresa between British and Italian officials on matters connected with the watering and grazing rights of nomadic British Somali tribes in certain zones outside the boundary of British Somaliland; but he added that that did not touch the merits of the Italo-Abyssinian dispute, which was never on the agenda of the Stresa Conference, and that the subject was not discussed there. I cannot add anything to that full statement, but the hon. Member will not have overlooked the fact that the matter has been discussed at length in recent debates.
§ Mr. HENDERSONIs it not a fact that the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs stated in the House in October last that no official discussions had taken place at Stresa? What I want to know is whether any unofficial discussions took place?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think my answer is quite clear. I cannot, of course, without notice recall what the Secretary of State said last autumn. If the hon. Member wishes that one specific point dealt with, perhaps he will put it down again.
§ Mr. E. J. WILLIAMSWill the Lord President of the Council tell us exactly what was said?
§ Mr. COCKSDid not the Government take with them their Abyssinian expert from the Foreign Office, and why did they do that if his services were not to be utilised?
§ 16. Mr. EDEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government are in direct communication with the Emperor of Ethiopia; and, if so, through whom?
§ The PRIME MINISTERHis Majesty's Government are not at the moment in direct communication with the Emperor, but if necessary they can communicate with His Majesty through the High Commissioner for Palestine.
§ Mr. EDEAre we to understand that there is no Minister directly accredited to the court of Ethiopia at the moment?
§ Mr. GARRO-JONESBy whom was it intimated to the Emperor that he was not expected to take any further part in the direction of hostilities?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question does not arise out of the answer.
§ 17. Mr. GRAHAM WHITEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is in a position to give the House any fuller information with regard to the leakage of information concerning the report of the inter-Departmental Committee on British interests in Abyssinia?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI would refer the hon. Member to the replies which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Dalton) and to my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on 24th February last, to which I have nothing to add.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am not quite sure what inquiry the hon. Member means. If he means whether precautions are being taken, they are.
§ 20. Mr. CROWDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any further communication from the Government whose Legations at Addis Ababa, were in part assisted or protected by the British Legation guard; and whether, if so, he will consider publishing them as a White Paper and also any despatch from Sir Sidney Barton describing events immediately prior to the occupation of the town by the Italians?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy right hon. Friend stated in the course of last Wednesday's Debate that the Belgian Government had communicated to His Majesty's Government their thanks for the assistance rendered to the Belgian Legation in Addis Ababa by Sir Sidney Barton and the British Legation guard. I am happy to be able to inform the House that the Governments of the United States and of Turkey have also conveyed their thanks to His Majesty's Government for the assistance which had similarly been afforded to their Legation in that city. There has been no time for any detailed report, apart from telegraphic summaries, to be received from Sir Sidney Barton describing the period immediately preceding the occupation of Addis Ababa by Italian forces. In these circumstances I am not in a position at present to make any statement with regard to the suggestion contained in the second part of my hon. Friend's question.
§ Mr. CROWDERWill my right hon. Friend consider publishing in due course some details of the magnificent achievement carried out by Major Charter and the Legation guard, so that it will be available to the public?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am sure the House will appreciate that in the time of stress through which Sir Sidney Barton is going, there is no possibility of his having time at present to write a connected account, which we shall all be glad to see, but I can assure the House that when we get this document it will certainly be published.
§ 46. Lieut.-Commander FLETCHERasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government or the British minister in Addis Ababa have been informed by the Italian Government that that Government no longer recognises the diplomatic status of the British mission in Ethiopia, and is only prepared to accord to the members of the mission the status of foreigners resident in Abyssinia; and, if so, whether His Majesty's Government acquiesce in this state of affairs, or whether they regard our mission in Ethiopia as still accredited to the Ethiopian Government, and, as such, entitled to full diplomatic status?
§ The PRIME MINISTEROn 5th May the Italian Commander-in-Chief and High Commissioner for the Italian Colonies of East Africa informed His Majesty's Minister, in company with the Heads of the other Diplomatic Missions in Addis Ababa, that he had assumed all civil and military powers in the name of the King of Italy and had appointed a military and a civil governor of Addis Ababa, which would be governed on the basis of Italian laws and military ordinances. On the basis of these, and pending a decision regarding the cessation of hostilities and the future of the country, the Legations would, Marshal Badoglio said, enjoy the recognised privileges for the representation of the interests of the countries they represented and the protection of their subjects. For these purposes the Legations could apply to the Marshal's chief of Cabinet. The Marshal would ensure the security of the personnel of the Legations, their staff and their property; but communications with any other quarter would not be recognised, nor would actions contrary to Italian laws and military ordinances. Sir Sidney Barton was instructed to make it clear, in his reply, that for the present his communications with Marshal Badoglio are on the footing that Sir Sidney Barton regards him as the authority in military occupation of Addis Ababa.
§ Lieut.-Commander FLETCHERWill the right hon. Gentleman reply specifically to the last part of my question?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe situation is changing so rapidly that it is almost impossible to answer all these questions. I have given the House, as I thought it 362 right to do, the last infomation we have received from Sir Sidney Barton. Since this answer was prepared, the announcement—there is a question on it later—of the annexation of Abyssinia has been received. These questions must await the return of the Foreign Secretary from Geneva.
§ Lieut.-Commander FLETCHERCannot the right hon. Gentleman reply to the perfectly simple question: Do the Government regard our mission in Addis Ababa, as still possessing full diplomatic status?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI should have thought that the answer I have given as to the military occupation was an answer to the question.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe question has already been answered.
§ 47. Lieut.-Commander FLETCHERasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government or the British Ambassador in Rome have received any notification of the assumption by His Majesty the King of Italy of the title of Emperor of Abyssinia, and, if so, whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to recognise this title?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Italian Ambassador communicated to the Foreign Office yesterday a copy of the Italian decree annexing Abyssinia to Italy and conferring the title of Emperor upon His Majesty the King of Italy. He was informed that the document was accepted under all reserve, and would be submitted to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on his return from Geneva.
§ 50. Mr. MANDERasked the Prime Minister whether it is still the policy of the Government not to apply any sanctions against Italy which would be likely to provoke a resistance based on the use of force; and whether this attitude has been communicated to other members of the League of Nations?
§ The PRIME MINISTERHis Majesty's Government have repeatedly stated that they are prepared to consider, together 363 with their fellow members of the League, any measures of an economic or financial nature on which there is general agreement at Geneva in connection with the Italo-Ethiopian dispute. This position is unchanged.
§ Mr. MANDERCan the Prime Minister say whether it is a fact that members of the Cabinet have now joined Dick Sheppard's League of non-resisters?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWhenever I hear the word "fact," I always suspect it.