47. Mr. Davidsonasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government have now received indications from the Italian Government of the points to be discussed next January, in accordance with Annex 2 of the British-Italian Agreement, which arranges for the exchange of military information?
§ The Prime MinisterAnnex 2 to the Anglo-Italian Agreement of 16th April provides that the two parties shall in January each year exchange information regarding any major prospective administrative movements or redistribution of their naval, military and air forces in a 867 certain area, and notify to each other in advance any decision to establish new naval or air bases in the Eastern Mediterranean or Red Sea. An exchange of information on these lines will take place in January next. There is no provision in the annex for the discussion of any particular points, and consequently no indications have been received from the Italian Government about such points.
Mr. DavidsonDo His Majesty's Government intend to discuss any questions of particular military significance with the Italian Government when they meet in January, or are they really waiting until the day of the meeting before they have any talks on the question?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is a different question altogether.