§ 13. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the present position in Abyssinia, stating which provinces are in effective control of the Italian authorities and in which provinces there exists organised Abyssinian resistance to the Italian forces?
§ 15. Mr. Robert Gibsonasked the Prime Minister what is the present position in and on the frontiers of Abyssinia?
§ Mr. ButlerThere appears to have been no appreciable change in the situation in Abyssinia since my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer replied to a similar question by the hon. Member 741 for Cumberland North (Mr. W. Roberts) on 21st February. My information is that the Italian authorities are in military control of virtually the whole country. Resistance to Italian authority appears to be of an unorganised and local character and to be confined to Western Abyssinia, more particularly to the provinces of Amhara and Gojjam. On the frontiers of Abyssinia the situation is normal and the status quois being maintained.
§ Mr. HendersonIn view of the conflicting statements with regard to the position in Abyssinia, will it be possible for a White Paper to be published?
§ Mr. ButlerI have given the hon. Member all the information in our possession.
§ 20. Miss Wilkinsonasked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to submit any proposals for the recognition of Abyssinia to the Assembly of the League or to secure, instead, the consent of the Council of the League?
§ The Prime MinisterOn 9th April His Majesty's Government addressed to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations a letter requesting that Monsieur Avenol would include in the agenda for the forthcoming session of the Council the question of the consequences arising out of the existing situation in Ethiopia. I am arranging for the text of this letter to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Miss WilkinsonIs not the procedure under the Covenant of the League that this recognition would have to have the assent of the Assembly and not of the Council?
§ The Prime MinisterI should like to have notice of that question.
§ Sir P. HarrisDoes that answer mean that the Government are going to take the lead at Geneva in the recognition of Abyssinia?
§ The Prime MinisterPerhaps the hon. Member will await the text of the letter.
§ Mr. H. G. WilliamsHow many countries have already recognised Abyssinia?
§ The Prime MinisterFive who are members of the Council, I think.
§ Miss WilkinsonIf the right hon. Gentleman obtains the consent of the 742 Council only for the Government's recognition of Abyssinia and not that of the Assembly, is he not thereby himself ignoring the Covenant of the League which this Government signed?
Following is the text of the letter referred to:I am directed by His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to inform you that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have had under consideration the anomalous situation arising from the fact that many States members of the League, including no less than five of the States represented on the Council, recognise that the Italian Government exercise sovereignty over Ethiopia or have taken action implying such recognition, whereas other States members of the League have not done so.His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are of the opinion that this situation should he clarified, and I am, therefore, to request that you will include in the Agenda for the forthcoming session of the Council the question of the consequences arising out of the existing situation in Ethiopia'.