§ 74. Mr. Dayasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any, and, if so, what, replies have been received from His Majesty's Governments in the Dominions with reference to the note His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom received from the Turkish Government with the request that discussions should be embarked upon with the Powers who took part in the Straits Convention, signed at Lausanne, on 24th July, 1923, as Article 18 of that Convention had ceased to be an effective guarantee of Turkish security; and what reply has now been forwarded to the Turkish Government?
§ Commander Southby (Lord of the Treasury)I have been asked to reply. His Majesty's Government in the Commonwealth of Australia were represented at the Conference held at Montreux last year and the Commonwealth representative signed the Convention drawn up at the Conference. His Majesty's Governments in the other Dominions were unable to accept the invitation of the Turkish Government to participate in the Conference, but each of these Governments intimated formally that they renounced any rights which they might have possessed under the Straits Convention of 1923 and that they raise no objection to such abrogation of its provisions as might be agreed upon at the Conference.
§ Mr. DayCan the hon. and gallant Member say whether any further negotiations are going on with the other Dominions?
§ Commander SouthbyCanada, New Zealand and the Union of South Africa Government communicated their renunciation of rights under the Straits Convention by notice to the President of the Conference, and the Irish Free State in a note addressed to the Turkish Ambassador in London.