§ 31. Major Beamishasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the fact that the Peace Treaties for Roumania, Bulgaria and Hungary came into force more than six months ago, he will describe the arrangements that have been made for the conference at which the riparian States will be represented to formulate a policy in accordance with the principles of free trade and navigation on the Danube, laid down in the Peace Treaties with the above-mentioned countries.
§ Mr. BevinThe hon. and gallant Member is presumably referring to the confercen which, according to the declaration of the Council of Foreign Ministers published on 7th December, 1946, should have been called within six months of the coming into force of the peace treaties with Roumania, Bulgaria and Hungary to work out a new convention regarding the régime of navigation on the Danube. These peace treaties came into force on 15th September, 1947. On 27th February, 1948, the United States Government addressed Notes to the Ambassadors in Washington of France, the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom proposing that the period within which the conference should be called should be extended to the end of 1948. His Majesty's Government on 13th March expressed agreement with this proposal. The Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics have replied proposing that the conference should be called to meet as soon as possible, at any rate not later than April or May, 1948. His Majesty's Government are examining this proposal.