§ 10. Sir R. Aclandasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the political situation in Italy, with particular reference to the British objection to Count Sforza becoming Foreign Secretary.
§ 22. Mr. G. Straussasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has considered the pronouncement of Signor Bonomi that Count Sforza has not worked against his Government, and whether he will now withdraw his objection to Count Sforza.
§ 24. Mr. Ivor Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Signor Bonomi has protested that he and Count Sforza have always worked together; and whether, in view of this misunderstanding, His Majesty's Government will now waive their objection to the appointment of Count Sforza as Italian Foreign Minister.
§ Mr. EdenI explained the attitude of His Majesty's Government in regard to Count Sforza in my statement on 1st December. The statement subsequently issued by Signor Bonomi in no way modifies the views of His Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. ThomasAre not the views of His Majesty's Government possibly modified by the very serious statement made by Mr. Stettinius, dissociating the United State from this policy? As the right hon. Gentleman's answer was probably prepared before that statement, will he now reconsider it?
§ Sir R. AclandDoes the right hon. Gentleman seriously maintain this statement that Sforza worked against the Bonomi Government, when both Sforza and Bonomi have said that that was not so?
§ Mr. G. StraussWas our action against Count Sforza taken by this country alone, without consultation with our Allies, and how does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile Bonomi's complete denial that Count Sforza has worked against him as Foreign Secretary with our reason for putting a ban on Count Sforza?
§ Mr. EdenAs regards the first part of the question, perhaps the hon. Member would be good enough to await a question that I am going to answer in a moment or two, about other Governments. About Bonomi's statement, he said:
Sforza and I are old friends, and even when he and I have disagreed on any particular question I have never had any reason to doubt his friendship towards me.I should have thought that that almost applied to the hon. Gentleman and myself.
§ Mr. ThomasIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.
§ 17. Mr. Lipsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if His Majesty's Government consulted with the Governments of the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. before intimating its objection to the appointment of Count Sforza as a member of the Italian Government.
§ Mr. EdenNo, Sir. His Majesty's Government have not objected to Count Sforza being a member of the Italian Government. He has, in fact, been such a member for some time past. The possibility of Count Sforza's appointment as Foreign Secretary was raised with His Majesty's Minister in Rome, who thereupon expressed what he knew to be the views of His Majesty's Government, and his statement was subsequently endorsed, and the United States Government were informed immediately of what had passed.
§ Mr. LipsonMay I ask whether the United States Government expressed their agreement with the action taken?——
§ Mr. GallacherNo, they have not.
§ Mr. Lipson—and is there no mention of the U.S.S.R.?
§ Mr. EdenOf course there is an Anglo-American Control Commission in Italy, and we informed our partners in that Commission. That is the normal procedure in these matters. In regard to the attitude of the United States Government, my hon. Friend will see an announcement in the Press this morning.
§ Mr. EdenThe European Advisory Commission's charge is to deal with preparations for dealing with Germany after this war. I must repeat to the House that I maintain that His Majesty's Government have a perfect right to express their opinion to another Government, about a Minister under conditions such as these.
§ Mr. G. StraussWhile, no doubt, the Government have a perfect right to do so, in view of the important principle in- 505 volved—in point of fact, the banning of the appointment of a particular Minister demanded by a Government of this sort—would it not be far wiser to consult our major Allies before taking such a step, and will the right hon. Gentleman do so in future?
§ Mr. EdenI have explained the circumstances in which this arose, and the fact that His Majesty's Minister, knowing the views of the British Government, expressed those views at once. In this he was absolutely correct. We informed the United States Government, and in that we were also absolutely correct.
§ Mr. Ivor ThomasWould it not be better, in view of the importance of Anglo-American relations, to admit that a blunder has been made and for the Foreign Secretary to withdraw gracefully, which he can do better than anybody else?