§ 4. Mr. Robert Gibsonasked the Prime Minister what is the comprehensive definition of the term "existing installations," arrived at by the International Commission; what are the principles according to which that term should be interpreted as laid down by the said Commission; and what was the date or dates on which that definition was arrived at and those principles were laid down?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Butler)As the reply is somewhat long, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ The principle adopted by the Commission was that the transferred territory should be handed over in orderly condition; and that installations, within the meaning of Article 2 of the Munich Agreement of 29th September, 1938, were to be regarded as all fixtures which were in the nature of a public utility, whether or not they were public or private property; and that the moveable materlal which was necessary for the normal functioning of the installations should be regarded as 836 forming part of these installations. It was further laid down, as consequent upon the adoption of the foregoing principles, that the Czechoslovak Government could not be made responsible for the removal of goods from the ceded territory to the present territory of Czechoslovakla if this removal was freely carried out by those who had the right to dispose of these goods. On the other hand, it was agreed that it was not in the spirit of the Munich Agreement if these removals were carried out against the will of those who had the right to dispose of the goods owing to official instructions or under pressure of any kind. In these events, the right of those who had a right to dispose of the goods remained intact to reclaim the goods removed or, if they could not be returned in natura, to demand compensation. This arrangement applies to all goods removed after 20th September, 1938. These principles and the terms adduced therefrom were adopted by the International Commission on the recommendation of its economic and financial sub-committee, formulated in a protocol dated 28th October last, and the further measures required in accordance with them are in course of being laid down by a Special German-Czech Commission.
§ 30. Miss Wilkinsonasked the Prime Minister whether the Government have yet been informed of the Czechoslovak frontiers which they are pledged to guarantee?
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Chamberlain)His Majesty's Government have received detailed information concerning the new frontiers of Czechoslovakla except as regards certain areas on the Polish frontier in which minor adjustments have been made, As regards pledges on the subject of a guarantee, I would refer the hon. Member to recent statements on this subject.
§ Miss WilkinsonDo I take it that from the information that the Prime Minister has received we are prepared now to guarantee those frontiers?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Lady will remember what the statements are that have already been made on that subject.
§ Miss WilkinsonI have refreshed my memory by reading them, and, therefore, may I ask whether the statement the Prime Minister has made refers specifically 837 to the frontiers about which he has now received information? It is as well to know what we are guaranteeing.
§ The Prime MinisterThe situation remains exactly as it was before.