HC Deb 17 July 1939 vol 350 cc12-3
19. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a further statement regarding the order of the prefect of the province of Bolzano, in Italy, that all foreigners must leave the district; whether he is satisfied that everything is being done to protect the rights of British subjects who have been in permanent residence there; and whether he proposes to take any further action in the matter?

21. Mr. Kennedy

asked the Prime Minister whether he has received any further information as to the proposed expulsion of all British subjects from the Italian Tyrol, including permanent residents there; and, in particular, what arrangements have been made to enable such British residents to get their property in full out of the country?

Mr. Butler

I would refer the hon. Members to the full reply given to the hon. Members for Govan (Mr. N. Maclean) and Dewsbury (Mr. Riley) on 13th July. His Majesty's Ambassador at Rome and His Majesty's Consul-General at Milan are closely watching developments and are in touch with the appropriate authorities of the Italian Government.

Mr. Henderson

Can the Prime Minister say whether there is any truth in the Italian statement that the British citizens affected by this order have been guilty of espionage?

Mr. Butler

No truth at all as far as we are informed.

Mr. Thorne

Does not this prove that there is no love between Mussolini and Hitler?