§ 6. Sir A. Southbyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the policy of His Majesty's Government that Italy shall retain her pre-war possessions in Libya and Tripoli.
§ Mr. EdenThe future of Italy's pre-war possessions in Libya and Tripoli must await consideration by the United Nations at the conclusion of peace.
§ Sir A. SouthbyMay I ask my right hon. Friend which Italian possessions in North Africa he had in mind when he made the statement on 28th July, 1944, that it was not the intention of the Allied Governments to return to Italy all of her North African possessions?
§ Mr. EdenIt seems to me that that was a pretty good statement, and I can assure my hon. and gallant Friend that it is still our position.
§ Sir A. SouthbyWill my right hon. Friend say what possessions he had in mind when he made it? That is what is really important.
§ Mr. EdenI think the position is really clear. If my hon. and gallant Friend will look at the statement I made on 4th October, he will see quite clearly what the position was said to be. It is that the Italian Government have no right to the return of any one of their colonies. What is done about the colonies is a matter, in some part, for discussion in the future.
§ Commander Locker-LampsonWill Germany be allowed to keep either the Kiel Canal or Heligoland?