§ 1. Mr. Dayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give particulars of the present position in regard to the Congo Basin Treaties?
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Eden)I am not clear from the hon. Member's question what precisely is the information which he desires in connection with these treaties, but if he wishes to know whether they are still in force, the answer is in the affirmative. I would also draw attention to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary for the Department of Overseas Trade in reply to a question on 9th December, 1935, in which he stated that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are advised that these treaties cannot be terminated or modified except with the consent of all the parties concerned. Among the foreign countries concerned are those which have ratified the St. Germain Convention of 1919, namely, Belgium, France, Italy, Japan, Portugal and the United States of America.