HC Deb 20 February 1939 vol 344 cc13-4
8. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now state the extent to which the number of Italian troops in Libya has been increased since 8th February?

23. Mr. W. Roberts

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any information as to the strength to which the Italian Government now intend to raise their forces in Libya?

27. Mr. Sandys

asked the Prime Minister whether he can state what increases have recently been made in the strength of the Italian military forces in Libya, and, in view of the reduction made as a result of the Anglo-Italian Agreement, whether he has received from the Italian Government any explanation for these increases?

Mr. Butler

My Noble Friend has no further information as to any increase in the number of Italian troops in Libya since 8th February. His Majesty's Ambassador in Rome has, however, been informed that the Italian Government are sending 30,000 more troops, and that His Majesty's Government will be duly informed of this movement according to the terms of the Agreement for the exchange of military information. The Italian Government stated that the increase was to provide for the security of Libya.

Mr. Henderson

Will not the despatch of these reinforcements be a breach of the Anglo-Italian Agreement; and may I ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of this despatch, His Majesty's Government propose to accept as an excuse the fact that these troops are necessary, when it is the Italians who are threatening to attack the French, and the French have not made any statement that they intend to attack the Italians?

Mr. Butler

The answer to the hon. Gentleman's question is that we cannot regard it as a breach of the Anglo-Italian Agreement. There was an agreement on the part of the Italian Government to reduce their troops to the figure which I originally quoted.

Mr. Sandys

Has His Majesty's Ambassador made any comment to the Italian Government on these increases; and have His Majesty's Government stated that they are satisfied, or that they are not satisfied, that the increases are justified?

Mr. Butler

His Majesty's Ambassador has received this information and passed it on to us, and has accepted the statement of the Italian Government that the increase was to provide for the security of Libya.

Mr. Attlee

Does that mean that the reduction promised in the Anglo-Italian Agreement was a reduction which could at any time be altered to an increase?

Mr. Butler

The terms of the Agreement, as the right hon. Gentleman will be aware, were contained in a letter sent on 16th April by the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Its terms were actually carried out, and those were the terms of the Agreement.

Mr. Attlee

Do I understand that the terms were that the number of troops should be reduced within a certain time, and that thereafter it could be increased again?

Mr. Butler

It was a statement of intention that was carried out. There was no question of perpetuity when that letter was written.

Sir A. Sinclair

When these reinforcements of 30,000 are sent to Libya, will the Italian garrison there be almost exactly the same as it was before the Anglo-Italian Agreement was signed?

Mr. Butler

Yes, that will be so.

Mr. Henderson

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.