§ 1. Mr. Manderasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present position in Danzig; whether any reports have recently been received from the High Commissioner by the Committee of the 206 League of Nations dealing with the matter; and whether any international negotiations on the subject of Danzig are taking place?
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Eden)The Committee of Three (France, Sweden, and the United Kingdom), appointed by the Council to follow the situation in Danzig, met in Geneva last week during the session of the Council, and heard a further report from the High Commissioner on the conditions in which he is called upon to carry out his functions and on the developments in the situation in Danzig since their last meeting in September The Committee reviewed the position in the light of the High Commissioner's explanations and approved the issue of a communiqué expressing their appreciation of the manner in which Dr. Burck-hardt was carrying out his task and stating that they did not consider it necessary to propose the inclusion of any question relating to Danzig in the agenda of the current session of the Council. The hon. Member will not expect me to add to this communiqué. The reply to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. ManderCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Committee is satisfied that all the inhabitants of Danzig enjoy their full constitutional liberties gauaranteed by the League?
§ Mr. EdenIf the hon. Member will read the communiqué, he will see that the Committee, after hearing the report of the High Commissioner on the development of the situation in Danzig since their last meeting, and after expressing their appreciation of the manner in which the High Commissioner had carried out his task, said that they did not consider that it was necessary for them to propose the inclusion of any question relating to Danzig in the agenda of the present session of the Council. Beyond that, I cannot answer.
§ Mr. ManderIs it not notorious that the constitution has been completely wrecked by the Nazis, and are the Committee satisfied to let that go without saying a word?
§ Mr. EdenIf the representatives of France, Sweden, and the United Kingdom thought it best in the circumstances to issue this communiqué and not to add to it, the hon. Member will not expect me to do other.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerAre we to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that the High Commissioner's report will not be published, and, if so, is this not the first occasion on which such a report from the High Commissioner has not been published?
§ Mr. EdenI should like to have notice of the second part of that question. It is true that there is no intention to publish anything more than that communiqué, and that was the decision arrived at by the Committee of Three.