HC Deb 18 December 1935 vol 307 cc1779-81W
Mr. LEWIS

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which of the 48 other States, besides France and Great Britain, that assented to the declaration that Italy has violated the Covenant of the League of Nations, have air forces stationed within 500 miles of Italy or Italian, territory in north or east Africa?

The PRIME MINISTER

I presume my hon. Friend includes among the territories which he has in mind the Dodecanese. In this case the States which seem to fall within his definition are Belgium, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Turkey, Spain, Poland, Rumania, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Bulgaria.

Mr. LEWIS

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which of the 48 other States, besides France and Great Britain, that assented to the declaration that Italy has violated the Covenant of the League of Nations, have warships in the Mediterranean or the Red Sea?

The PRIME MINISTER

The following States, which seem to come within my hon. Friend's definition, have warships in the Mediterranean:

  • Spain.
  • Yugoslavia.
  • Greece.
  • Turkey.
  • Albania.
None of these States has warships in the Red Sea.

Mr. LEWIS asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which of the 48 other states, besides France and Great Britain, that assented to the declaration that Italy has violated the Covenant of the League of Nations, have standing armies in territory bordering on Italy or on Italian territory in North or East Africa?

The PRIME MINISTER

Yugloslavia is, so far as I am aware, the only State falling within the suggested definition which possesses an army on the Italian frontiers. The only other State which enters into consideration is Switzerland, but, as my hon. Friend is doubtless aware, the Swiss army consists of a militia and a permanent cadre of officers. No such States have armies in territory bordering on Italian territory in North or East Africa.

Mr. MANDER

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the attitude at the recent discussions in Paris of the French Government with regard to co-operation in the imposition of an oil sanction in the event of the proposed peace terms then agreed upon not being submitted to the Italian and Ethiopian Governments?

The PRIME MINISTER

During the recent discussions in Paris Monsieur Laval and my right hon. Friend were in agreement that it would not be reasonable for an extension of sanctions to be discussed so long as as peace proposals were under active consideration by the three parties to the, dispute, Italy, Ethiopia, and the League of Nations.

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