§ 46. Mr. MANDERasked the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that it is the declared policy of the Government that military sanctions are an essential part of collective security, what steps he is taking to apply these in the case of the dispute between the League of Nations and Italy with regard to Abyssinia and in general?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwood (Mr. Sanders) on 5th May, and to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leeds (Mr. V. Adams) yesterday. To these I have nothing to add.
§ Mr. MANDERWill the Prime Minister be good enough to say when the Government are prepared to act on the principle which he recently announced?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Government are supporters of collective action, not unilateral action.
Mr. MANDEBIn view of the fact that in the recent dispute the Government ruled out military sanctions altogether, are we to understand that in the future they would be willing to use them?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI should have thought they had been ruled out up to the present by the League of Nations.
§ 83. Mr. COCKSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information regarding the loss of a British diplomatic bag on the Addis Ababa-Jibuti railway; and whether he is taking any action in the matter?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEMy right hon. Friend has seen Press reports on this subject. He is making inquiries, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement.
§ Mr. COCKSIn view of the fact that interference with diplomatic communications is a very serious matter, will the Foreign Secretary take action which is commensurate with the seriousness of this question?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEI have already said that we are making inquiries.
§ Lieut.-Commander FLETCHERWill the Noble Lord make sure that this bag was lost and not stolen?
§ 84. Mr. COCKSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Mr. Bonner, a British ambulance officer, who was being rushed to Aden to be treated for a dangerous complaint, has been arrested by the Italians at Dire Dawa; and whether, in view of the fact that Mr. Bonner's life may be endangered by this detention, he will demand the immediate release of this British subject?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEHis Majesty's Minister at Addis Ababa has reported that Mr. Bonner left Addis Ababa for Jibuti on 13th May on his way to Aden where he intended to complete a course of treatment against rabies which had been interrupted by the destruction of the serum during the disorders at Addis Ababa. On 15th May he saw, in Dire Dawa, His Majesty's Consul at Harar, whom he informed that he had lost, or been deprived of, a bag containing a sum of money. While Mr. Bonner was making inquiries at Dire Dawa the train had left without him. His Majesty's Consul accompanied Mr. Bonner to the Italian authorities and explained the urgency of his case. On subsequently learning in Harar of Mr. Bonner's reported arrest, His Majesty's Consul again on 19th May made urgent representations to the Italian authorities, who maintained that evidence had been found of Mr. Bonner's employment with the Abyssinian forces. This allegation His Majesty's Consul denied. On 20th May he was informed that Mr. Bonner had disappeared from Dire Dawa on the night of 17th-18th May. His Majesty's Minister at Addis Ababa 1360 has asked His Majesty's Vice-Consul at Jibuti to take steps to ascertain whether Mr. Bonner has reached that place by a later train. As soon as Press reports of Mr. Bonner's arrest reached London, my right hon. Friend telegraphed to His Majesty's Minister al Addis Ababa asking him to ascertain the facts. As a consequence we have received the information which I have just given. From this it will be seen that every effort is being made to ascertain Mr. Bonner's whereabouts, but for the present I have no further information.
§ Mr. COCKSWhile thanking the Noble Lord for that information, I would like to ask him whether, in view of the fact that a British subject's life might be in danger, the Government will pursue the most energetic action to obtain his release, if he is arrested; and what right under any international law have the Italians to arrest a British subject in a neutral friendly State?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEI can assure the hon. Gentleman that we are taking and will take the most energetic steps to find out where Mr. Bonner is.