§ Mr. RENNIE SMITHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if a decision has been reached at the recent council of the League of Nations concerning the withdrawal of French troops from the Saar; and, if so, whether he will communicate that decision to the House?
§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINOne battalion of French troops is to be withdrawn. The Council further adopted the following Resolution
The Council requests the Governing Commission to submit to it for consideration a report on the manner in which it would be possible, in the absence of troops, to carry into effect sub-paragraph 3 of the paragraph 30 of the Saar Annex to the Treaty of Versailles, which lays down that it will be the duty of the Governing Commission to provide in all cases for the protection of persons and property in the Saar Basin. In preparing its report, the Governing Com- 1862W mission should take into account the possibility of obtaining the assistance of troops stationed outside the Saar territory.
§ Mr. SMITHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether all officials at the head of the administration of the Saar have taken an oath of loyalty to the governing commission as representative of the League of Nations?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINHis Majesty's Government have no information on this point.
§ Mr. SMITHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give the number of German youths in the Saar Valley who have entered the service of the French Foreign Legion since the League of Nations took over the government of the Saar?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir