§ Lieut.-Commander FLETCHERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the detention of Colonel Llewellyn and Major Bentinck by the Italians at Dire Dawa?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEMy right hon. Friend has information that these gentlemen have been arrested, but it appears that they have been prevented from leaving Dire Dawa, apparently on the charge that their papers are not in order. In view of the difficulty experienced by His Majesty's Minister at Addis Ababa and by His Majesty's Consul at Harar in securing further information, His Majesty's Ambassador in Rome has been instructed to approach the Italian Government immediately with a view to ascertaining the facts and bringing the detention of these gentlemen to an end.
§ Mr. COCKSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made since 24th February in the inquiry into the cause of the leakage which resulted in a copy of the Maffey Report getting into Italian hands; and whether all the copies of the report which were circulated officially have been accounted for?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEMy right hon. Friend stated in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland on 24th February that a full inquiry would be held into this matter, and this has been done. My right hon. Friend has already made it clear to the House that this would not be a matter on which it would be proper to divulge details.
§ Mr. COCKSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in view of the suffering caused to Mr. Bunner as a result of his arrest by the Italian authorities at Dire Dawa, he will demand full compensation and an apology for this arrest from the Italian Government?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEAccording to my right hon. Friend's information Mr 2213W Bunner' detention by the Italian authorities at Dire Dawa was due to a case of mistaken identity, which may be partly due to the fact that he had mislaid his passport. As my right hon. Friend stated yesterday, His Majesty's Government, as at present advised, do not propose to take any further action.
§ Mr. COCKSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information regarding the arrest of Colonel Llewellyn and Major Bentinck of the British Red Cross unit, by the Italians at Dire Dawa; and whether he will demand the immediate release of these British subjects?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to a. question put by the hon. and gallant Member for Nuneaton (Lieut.-Commander Fletcher) on the same subject.