BRITISH CONSUL, PRAGUE.

HC Deb 31 July 1939 vol 350 cc1932-3

33. Sir P. Harris

asked the Prime Minister whether the British Consul at Prague has yet received his exequatur from the German Government; if not, whether he can state the cause of the delay; and whether the Consul is able to carry out his functions without such exequatur?

Mr. Butler

After the withdrawal of His Majesty's Legation at Prague a request was made for an exequatur for a Consul-General at Prague. This has been refused by the German Government on the grounds that His Majesty's Government had declared that while their request for an exequatur constituted in itself the de facto recognition of the present position in Bohemia and Moravia they could not modify the views which they had already expressed as regards the legality of the manner in which that position had been brought about. The question of the appointment of a Consul-General at Prague is, therefore, in abeyance.

Sir Archibald Sinclair

Is not it a great pity that His Majesty's Government exposed themselves to this rebuff, against which we warned them at the time; and would not it have been very much better not to have asked for this exequatur at all and thus accorded, as the right hon. Gentleman points out, at least de facto recognition to German rule in Prague?

Mr. Butler

No, Sir. The reasons why His Majesty's Government made this application were explained to the House, and the appointment of a Consul-General would be of value most of all, for example, in the refugee question and also to British interests. It was for these reasons the application was made, and I am now giving the right hon. Baronet the result of the application.

Sir A. Sinclair

Has the right hon. Gentleman found it impossible to continue to look after the interests of refugees in Prague in spite of not having this exequatur?

Mr. Butler

No, Sir. The appointment of a Consul-General would be preferable, but our interest in the refugees has been carried on.

Sir A. Sinclair

Then it was not necessary?

Mr. Butler

I cannot accept that. The granting of the exequatur would obviously have been preferable. The German Government are not prepared to grant the exequatur. That is how the position stands at present.