§ 16. Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Article 86 of the Constitution of the free city of Danzig, which declares it to be the duty of every citizen to protect the Constitution against unlawful attacks, is still in operation?
§ Viscount CranborneI presume the hon. Member is referring to Article 87 of the Constitution, which prescribes the duty 552 to which he refers. This article has not been revised, and therefore still forms part of the Constitution.
§ Mr. DaviesAre the provisions of that article being implemented at the present time?
§ Viscount CranborneAs the hon. Member knows, the whole of this situation is under discussion at Geneva, and I am afraid I cannot say anything further at the present moment.
§ 17. Mr. Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, seeing that the ordinances instituting and prolonging protective custody under which persons, including members of the Danzig Diet, are imprisoned without trial, are a violation of the constitution, he will say what course of action His Majesty's Government intend to propose to the Council of the League of Nations with a view to abrogating these ordinances?
§ Viscount CranborneAs the hon. Member is aware, the whole situation in Danzig is at the present moment the subject of discussion by the Council of the League of Nations. While it is not possible for me to make any statement regarding the probable outcome of these discussions, the hon. Member may rest fully assured that all relevant facts will come under review during their course.