§ 2. Mr. Liddallasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 426 whether he has any further statement to make in regard to the present position in Tangier?
§ Mr. ButlerThe services of the Tangier administration are reported to be functioning normally. Otherwise I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) on 19th June.
§ Mr. LiddallDoes my right hon. Friend consider that the Government are alive to the grave responsibility that rests upon them in trusting such a vital position to a country which is a non-belligerent and which at the same time harbours so many of the enemy?
§ Mr. ButlerIf my hon. Friend will turn to my reply on the date in question, he will see that I said we have been notified by the Spanish Government that they intend to respect the neutrality of Tangier.
§ Mr. ShinwellWhen the French Government gave their decision to allow the Spanish Government to exercise control in that territory, were His Majesty's Government informed, and what reply did they give?
§ Mr. ButlerHis Majesty's Government were informed, and they accepted the position and the statement of the Spanish Government that they intended to respect the neutrality of Tangier.
§ Mr. ShinwellCan we trust the Spanish Government at this stage?
§ Mr. ButlerHis Majesty's Government have accepted the honourable declaration of the Spanish Government.
§ Mr. LiddallIs there such a thing as neutrality at the present time?