§ Mr. MORELasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the representative of His Majesty's Government on the Council of the Ambassadors was a party to the decision whereby Eastern Galicia, despite the protest of its inhabitants, has been incorporated in the Polish State; whether a pledge was given by the Foreign Secretary last year that their representations would be heard and considered before a decision was reached; whether His Majesty's Government were aware that leading Americans had been engaged to argue the case for the inhabitants of Eastern Galicia; and what racial affinity can be urged to justify the disposal of 4,000,000 people to alien rule?
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§ Mr. McNEILLHis Majesty's Government were represented at the Ambassadors' Conference when the decision to incorporate Eastern Galicia in the Polish State was taken. Although it is true that a protest against this decision has been lodged by certain individuals, there is no reason to believe that these persons were expressing the sentiments of the inhabitants as a whole. With regard to the second part of the question, I am not aware of any pledge given last year to the effect mentioned. The answer to the third part is in the negative. As regards the last part of the question, although the result of the decision will not be as described by the hon. Member, Polish sovereignty over Eastern Galicia has been conceded in view of Poland's recognition of the fact that the ethnographical conditions prevailing necessitate a régime of autonomy.