§ Mr. Thorneasked the Prime Minister whether he can give any information in connection with the decision to submit the dispute between Hungary and Czechoslovakia to the arbitration of Germany and Italy; and, as the Munich Agreement stated that if the problem of the Polish and Hungarian minorities could not be settled between the heads of the respective Governments it should be submitted to the four Powers, what action he intends taking in the matter?
§ Mr. ButlerOn 24th October the Hungarian Government suggested to the Czechoslovak Government that, failing other methods of reaching a settlement, the questions at issue between them should be submitted to arbitration. The Czechoslovak Government replied that they were prepared to submit the question of the Hungarian minority to arbitration. The two Governments agreed that the German and Italian Governments should be invited to act as arbitrators, and representatives of the Governments concerned met in Vienna on 2nd November for the purpose.
His Majesty's Government can only welcome the agreement of the Czechoslovak and Hungarian Governments to submit their differences to a peaceful settlement by arbitration.
§ Mr. Rileyasked the Prime Minister the extent of Czechoslovakian territory with less than 50 per cent. of German-speaking population transferred to Germany under the Munich Agreement?
§ Mr. ButlerDirect negotiations are at present in progress between the German and Czechoslovak Governments for the settlement of the final frontier, and, pending their conclusion, it is not possible to state whether, and, if so, to what extent, territory with a present population which is less than 50 per cent. German-speaking will be transferred to Germany.
Miss Rathboneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider making financial provision, whether by gift or loan, for the temporary maintenance of those refugees from Czechoslovakia who cannot safely return either to the ceded territories or to the German Reich, in order that the burden of their maintenance, pending their permanent settlement, may not be thrown wholly upon the voluntary relief funds?
380W
§ Sir J. SimonIt is a general principle that the maintenance of refugees in this country is a matter for voluntary contributions and is not an object to which it would be proper to appropriate public funds. I can hold out no hope of an exception to this principle being made in the present case. As regards the assistance of these emigrants from the advance placed at the disposal of the Czechoslovak Government by His Majesty's Government, I would refer to the statement made during the Debate on Tuesday by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.
Mr. Whiteleyasked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared to sanction grants made by local authorities to the appeal of the Lord Mayor of London for the refugees in Czechoslovakia?
§ Mr. ElliotNo, Sir. I fully appreciate the feeling which prompts a desire to contribute for this purpose, but I do not think that I should be justified in authorising such contributions from the rates.