§ 2. Professor Savoryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the fact that in South Tyrol nearly 90 per cent. of the persons employed in the civil service, the judiciary, public security, finance, taxation, forestry, the post office and the railways are Italians, most of whom do not even understand the German language: that this is in violation of Annex 4 of the Treaty of Peace with Italy to which His Majesty's Government are a party: and whether he will call the attention of the Italian Government to this breach of the treaty.
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesAs I stated in reply to the hon. Member on 6th December last, I have no reason to suppose that the Italian Government are not carrying out heir obligations in this regard, though progress in some respects may be somewhat slow. I do not consider that the present position reveals a violation of the Treaty of Peace with Italy: representations to the Italian Government would not, therefore, in my opinion be justified.
§ Professor SavoryIs the hon. Gentleman not aware that the figures given in the Question have been scrupulously verified, and that they clearly show a flagrant breach of Article (1, d) of the Treaty, which guaranteed equality of employment for the Tyrolese with the Italians?
§ Mr. DaviesI would not agree that it is a breach because progress is being made towards bringing that provision into effect, but it takes time. Perhaps I might remind the hon. Gentleman that we are faced here with a border territory in which there are two populations, differing in race and 1261 language. Consequently, there is a very keen nationalist spirit, and good will on both sides is necessary.
§ Lord Malcolm Douglas-HamiltonDoes not the hon. Gentleman remember that the South Tyrolese were subject to maltreatment by Mussolini's Italy for a great many years, and that Hitler's rape of Austria gave them no hope at all? Does he not realise that today they look to Britain to see that the Treaty obligations are maintained so that they can get justice for the first time in many years?
§ Mr. DaviesThe position of these South Tyrolese is very much better than it was under the Mussolini régime. Conditions in the area are prosperous and are generally satisfactory.
§ Sir Ronald RossAs the Foreign Office say that action at present would be premature, will they keep the situation under observation so that if they thought that action was justified later they could take it?
§ Mr. DaviesYes, Sir, we are doing that. In view of the sincere interest of the hon. Member for Antrim, South (Professor Savory) in this matter, we have received special reports since his last Question.