§ I. Mr. Edmund Harveyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to whether the provisions of the Forced Labour Convention have been accepted in respect of the Belgian Congo and the Portuguese African Colonies?
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Eden)The Portuguese Government have not ratified this Convention nor have they, so far as I am aware, signified their intention of doing so. A Bill providing for the ratification of the Convention was submitted to the Belgian Chamber before the invasion of Belgium but had not been considered when the invasion occurred.
§ Mr. HarveyWhen a suitable occasion occurs, will the good offices of His Majesty's Government be used to persuade any Powers concerned to ratify?
§ Mr. EdenThis is a matter for the Government concerned, but I will consider what my hon. Friend says.