HC Deb 19 July 1922 vol 156 cc2096-8W
Mr. MALONE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any reply has yet been received from the French Government to the protest of His Majesty's Government concerning the proposal of France to build harbour facilities, including a submarine base, at Tangier; whether a conference is about to be held; if so, when and where; what delegates will attend; whether Britain has insisted on Spain attending and France the Sultan of Morocco; and what is the next step?

Mr. HARMSWORTH

In reply to the protest of His Majesty's Government the French Government have maintained the right of the Sultan to grant a concession for the construction of harbour works at Tangier without the consent of other Powers. It has never been proposed to construct a submarine base at Tangier. It is hoped to hold a conference in London shortly between the Prime Ministers of France, Spain and Great Britain. His Majesty's Government have always made it a condition that the Conference should be Tripartite. The Sultan of Morocco, being under French protection, will be properly represented by France.

Viscount WOLMER

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the interests of the French subjects in the urban area of Tangier, as revealed by the returns under the inhabited house duty, are less than those of either the British or Spanish subjects there?

Mr. HARMSWORTH

The answer is in the affirmative.

Viscount WOLMER

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British, Spanish, and American Governments have protested against the concession which the Sultan of Morocco has, at the instance of the French authorities, purported to grant to an international 'company for the construction of a port at Tangier; whether.

GERMANY.—CIRCULATION.
Riechbank Notes. Loan and Treasury Notes. Total.
Millions of Marks. Millions of Marks. Millions of Marks.
15th November, 1918 17,454 10,170 27,624
15th May, 1919 26,958 11,342 38,300
15th November, 1919 31,123 12,092 43,215
15th May, 1920 48,948 14,048 62,996
15th November, 1920 64,095 13,121 77,216
15th May, 1921 70,834 9,575 80,409
15th November, 1921 95,186 7,368 102,554
15th May, 1922 142,904 9,439 152,343
30th June, 1922 169,212 10,718 179,930
7th July, 1922 172,737 Not available.

As will be seen from these figures, the answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. In reply to the

in spite of those protests, the Moorish Minister in Tangier, at the instance of the French authorities, notified last month that tenders for the infrastructure of the port under the concession would be accepted on the 9th of November next; whether the representatives of all the Powers represented in Tangier except the French have protested against the action of the Moorish Minister; and what further steps His Majesty's Government propose to take in the matter?

Mr. HARMSWORTH

The answer to the first three parts of the question is in the affirmative. His Majesty's Government intend to raise the whole question at the forthcoming Tangier Conference.