§ 7 Brigadier-General Sir Henry Croftasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he is 2878 aware that in the memorandum submitted to the committee for the study of the problem of raw materials at Geneva, document V., embodying proposals and suggestions, contains numerous suggestions which interfere with the sovereignty and administration of the Colonial possessions of the British Empire and include the transfer of territories at present under the British flag; whether these suggestions were circulated by permission of the representatives of Great Britain at Geneva; and whether he will give instructions that British representatives should make it clear that such proposals and suggestions are not open to discussion;
(2) whether his attention has been called to the fact that proposals and suggestions having no relation to the subject of raw materials, circulated amongst the members of the committee for the study of the problem of raw materials, include proposals from political bodies in Great Britain which have no official sanction or connection with His Majesty's Government and which even contain a proposal that Colonies should be transferred into Mandated Territories; and whether he will take steps to see that such proposals, in no way representing the Governments of Member States of the League, should be ruled out of future discussions;
(3) to what foreign policy reports, in document V., presented to the Committee on Raw Materials at Geneva, refer; whether such reports emanate from the Foreign Office; and whether he will make a categorical statement to the effect that Clauses 3 and 5 of proposals and suggestions are at complete variance with the policy of His Majesty's Government?
§ Mr. EdenThe "Foreign Policy Reports" referred to in the Secretariat Memorandum are reports issued twice a month by the Foreign Policy Association of New York, which is an entirely unofficial institution. All the other points raised by my hon. and gallant Friend were dealt with in the full reply which I gave on this subject on 10th March.
§ Sir H. CroftIs it competent for a foreign country to make suggestions which affect the Sovereignty of this country and to put such suggestions forward for debate before this committee?
§ Mr. EdenNo, Sir. I am not aware that a foreign country put forward these questions for debate, nor am I aware that the matter is on the agenda. This is, I understand, an entirely unofficial institution, and its words, whatever they may have been, have no authority internationally at all.
§ Sir H. CroftIs it not also a fact that the suggestions have come from one of the Opposition parties in this country; and is that privilege to be extended to other important organisations in this country which have no connection with the Government?
§ Mr. EdenI do not know what the hon. Gentleman means by "suggestions from the Opposition parties." I can speak only for the Government.
§ 14. Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a report will be printed of the Raw Materials Committee that met at Geneva; and whether he can say when the sub-committees will report to the full Council?
§ Mr. EdenThe committee has issued an interim report, copies of which I am arranging to place in the Library of the House. It will be seen from this interim report that the sub-committees will meet in June and that their meeting will be followed by a plenary meeting of the committee. The reports of the subcommittees will be considered at that meeting.