§ 3. Flight-Lieutenant Ralph Ethertonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what British territory has recently been transferred to Venezuela; and under what conditions?
§ Mr. EdenI presume that my hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the cession to Venezuela of the small island of Patos, in virtue of the treaty concluded between the Venezuelan Government and His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom on 26th February last. This treaty was approved by both Houses of Parliament in May and, having duly received the Royal Assent, was ratified on behalf of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom on 22nd September. The circumstances in which were concluded this treaty and the companion treaty, providing for the allocation as between the two Powers of the submarine areas of the Gulf of Paria, were explained to the House by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies on 14th May last, as part of a general understanding equally agreeable to the United States of Venezuela and to ourselves.