24. Mr. Davidsonasked the Prime Minister whether in accordance with Annex II of the British-Italian Agreement which agrees to the exchange of military information, His Majesty's Government will call for information regarding the Italian aviation stations in the Balearic Islands?
§ Mr. ButlerThe Agreement provides that the exchange of information about air forces is confined to such forces stationed in or based on certain overseas possessions of either party and certain territories in Africa. I would refer the hon. Member to Annex II of the Agreement for full details.
Mr. DavidsonI have read Annex II, but may I have a specific reply to the question whether His Majesty's Government, when this opportunity occurs, will make definite representations with regard to these aviation stations in the Balearic Islands?
§ Mr. ButlerThis matter is not covered by the Agreement.
Mr. DavidsonDoes that mean that His Majesty's Government view those aviation stations with complacency?
§ Mr. ButlerI cannot accept the premises of the hon. Gentleman's statement, and the answer as regards the agreement is, as I have said, "No."
§ Sir A. SinclairDoes that mean that His Majesty's Government will have no right to ask about the aviation stations of the Italian Army in the Balearic Islands, or about the Italian troops in Spain, or about the guns that have been erected on the Straits of Gibraltar?
§ Mr. ButlerThe question on the Paper asked whether this matter was covered by the Agreement, and I have said that it is not.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherDoes not the Anglo-Italian Agreement provide for the maintenance of the status quo in the Mediterranean, and can it be said that the establishment of Italian aviation bases in the Balearic Islands does not affect that status quo?
§ Mr. ButlerThe hon. and gallant Gentleman must remember the statement made by the head of the Italian Government on the subject of the status quo.