§ LORD WEDGWOODMy Lords, I desire to put the question standing on the Paper in my name.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether they can give any further information as to the Abyssinian Agreement, especially in connexion with the Emperor's powers to sequestrate the property of enemy aliens, or the confiscation of concessions made by the late Italian de facto Government.]
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DOMINION AFFAIRS (LORD CECIL) (Viscount Cranborne)My Lords, in answer to the noble Lord, I would say that under the Agreement enemy property 981 in Ethiopia is being dealt with in accordance with International Law, which means that State property, which is by far the largest part, will be treated as having become the property of the Ethiopian State. As regards the private property of enemy aliens the Emperor has power under International Law to sequestrate it pending its ultimate disposal in the peace settlement. Nothing in the Agreement diminishes this power. The responsibility for enemy property is one which we share with the Emperor, since much of this property came originally into our hands, and we cannot divest ourselves of this responsibility. For this reason and in order that we may assist the Emperor in dealing with the custodianship of private enemy property, the Agreement provides for consultation with His Majesty's representative. As regards such concessions as the Italian authorities may have granted, His Majesty's Government possess at present very little information, but this matter will be dealt with in accordance with Ethiopian law.
§ LORD WEDGWOODMy Lords, may I ask two supplementary questions of the noble Lord? Apparently the Emperor can sequestrate Italian property after consultation with His Majesty's representative. Does that mean "subject to the veto of His Majesty's representative," or is the consultation purely a formal affair? Secondly, in connexion with these concessions, which, I think, are very numerous, will that Ethiopian law, if it has to be made, also be subject to the approval of His Majesty's representative?
§ LORD CECILNo, no. With regard to that second point, the concessions will be dealt with by Ethiopian law. A concession 982 is something granted by the authority in the country. It is a right which can be granted or withheld or annulled. That is a matter for the Emperor, and he will no doubt bring in such legislation as he thinks fit to deal with these concessions. The answer to the noble Lord's other point is that it will be done in collaboration with His Majesty's Government. There is no question of veto, it is a question of International Law. These goods are sequestrated until the end of the war, and, at the end of the war, their fate will be settled in accordance with the Peace Treaty. This is exactly the same procedure as has been adopted in every other country with regard to enemy property.
§ LORD WEDGWOODCan this property be sold and the proceeds be dealt with in some way?
§ LORD CECILI understand that it is sequestrated until the end of the war. That is the position.