§ Colonel Wedgwoodasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether contact has been made between the British Government and the Emperor of Ethiopia; whether the Emperor's government will be recognised as the lawful government of Ethiopia and admitted to the full status of an ally in the present war, with assurances that Ethiopia's independence will be assured when the war is won; and whether, in consequence, contact will be made with General Abeba Aragui, who is commanding the Ethiopian forces in the field and with Ras Birru, formerly war minister of Abyssinia, who recently flew from Jerusalem to the Sudan to join the Ethiopian forces on the Emperor's behalf, in order that the British and Ethiopian forces may co-ordinate their activities against the Italians in Ethiopia?
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§ Mr. ButlerYes, Sir. While the right hon. and gallant Gentleman will readily understand that it is not possible to go into any detail in answering his Question, I can assure him that His Majesty's Government realise the importance of co-ordinating all activities likely to damage the enemy's military effort in North and East Africa and in Abyssinia.