HC Deb 13 October 1943 vol 392 cc853-5
1. Mr. Boothby

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make it one of the political terms of the armistice that the King of Italy no longer be designated Emperor of Ethiopia and King of Albania in official documents and broadcasts?

2. Miss Rathbone

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any action has been taken in regard to Marshal Badoglio's decree, issued on 23rd September, in which he refers to the King of Italy as Emperor of Ethiopia and King of Albania; and whether he has any statement to make on the matter?

4. Mr. Mander

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will represent to the Italian Government the inadvisability of continuing to describe their King as Emperor of Ethiopia and King of Albania?

8. Mr. Price

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that in a recent decree broadcast by the Badoglio Government the King of Italy had been referred to as King of Albania and Emperor of Ethiopia; and whether, in view of the offence this is likely to cause to these countries, he will take steps to prevent its repetition?

12. Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will assure the House that the British Government do not propose to recognise the titles of Emperor of Ethiopia and Duke of Addis Ababa, hitherto borne by King Victor Emmanuel and Marshal Badoglio, respectively; and what steps have been taken to secure their formal abandonment?

13. Mr. Riley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give an assurance that His Majesty's Government do not approve of the King of Italy now being designated Emperor of Ethiopia; and whether he is aware that in a recent broadcast from the Bari broadcasting station, which is in Allied hands, the King of Italy was so designated?

18. Commander Sir Archibald Southby

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to a decree, broadcast by an Italian wireless station under the control of the Badoglio Government, in which the King of Italy was described as King of Albania and Emperor of Ethiopia; and whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to countenance any claim by any Italian Government to either Albania or Abyssinia?

The Minister of State (Mr. Richard Law)

The titles "Emperor of Ethiopia and King of Albania" were inserted in the decree to which my hon. Friends refer through a mistake on the part of a minor Italian official and after the decree had actually been signed by the King and countersigned by Marshal Badoglio. As soon as the decree was broadcast in this form, the Allied liaison officer with the Badoglio Government was instructed to inform Marshal Badoglio that the use of these titles was quite inadmissible and an assurance was obtained that the King would in future only be referred to as the King of Italy. His Majesty's Government naturally do not recognise the King of Italy either as Emperor of Ethiopia or as King of Albania.

Mr. Boothby

While thanking my right hon. Friend for his very satisfactory reply, may I ask him when he thinks we may be put in possession of some information regarding the general political terms of the armistice imposed on Italy?

Mr. Law

That is another question.

Sir A. Southby

Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that the statement which the Prime Minister made in his recent speech in this House, that the Italian Empire had been "irretrievably lost," has given general satisfaction throughout the country?

Mr. Driberg

May I ask the Minister whether his answer also applies to the title "Duke of Addis Ababa"?

Mr. Law

I am not aware that General Badoglio has, in fact, used that title. I should be very surprised if it was a title in which he took very much pride now and which he would be likely to use.

Mr. McGovern

Would it not be more proper to use the term,"ex-King of Italy"?

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