§ Mr. Manderasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now able to make a statement about the position in Tangier and our relations with Spain generally?
§ Mr. Cocksasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a statement on the position in Tangier; and whether the pledge of the Spanish Government that the neutrality of the port is to be preserved carries with it any limitation of the number of Spanish troops to be allowed in the zone and an assurance that Tangier shall not be used as a base for operations against French Morocco?
§ Mr. ButlerI regret that I am still not in a position to make a final statement regarding the position in Tangier. As regards the second part of the Question of the hon. Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Cocks) I must ask him to await this fuller statement, but I must state clearly that my right hon. Friend cannot accept the implication which appears in the concluding words of the Question.
§ Mr. ManderCan my right hon. Friend say what it is that is holding up a settlement of this question, in view of the fact that many weeks, if not months ago, unilateral action was taken in abuse of British rights? Is it not about time we got some satisfaction?
§ Mr. ButlerI think the hon. Member's view is shared by the Government. The position is that the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs has been away from Madrid, and this accounts partly for the delay in reaching agreement, but, as my right hon. Friend has said, negotiations have been proceeding satisfactorily.
§ Mr. CocksRegarding the pledge that the neutrality of Tangier would be preserved, in what way does that position differ from the position in the rest of Spain?
§ Mr. ButlerI think the importance of the hon. Member's observation is not denied, but I feel that it would be better if he would await the fuller statement.