HC Deb 08 February 1937 vol 320 cc43-4W
Mr. Jenkins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the declaration of the Senate of Danzig that it bases its relations with the High Commissioner on the legal statute in force, is interpreted by the League of Nations as giving the High Commissioner the right to report at once any infraction of that legal statute?

Viscount Cranborne

The report adopted by the Council on 26th January states that it is for the High Commissioner to decide, on the basis of whatsoever information may be available to him, as to the questions, if any, in regard to which he will ask for explanations from the Senate, and thereafter to decide himself whether or not it is advisable for him to make a report to the Council. It is clear from this that the High Commissioner has the right to report any infraction of the legal statute, but that he would first seek the observations of the Senate on the question at issue. This involves no departure from the procedure followed in the past, and it is specifically stated in the report adopted by the Council that the right of the High Commissioner to ask for information from the Senate, and the duty of the Senate to furnish the information asked for, remain unquestioned.