§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of His Majesty's Government with regard to the Congo Basin Treaties and particularly as to the continued participation of Japan in their benefits.
§ Mr. MayhewThe policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to the Congo Basin Treaties is set forth in the replies given to the hon. Member on 25th October, 1949, and on 26th May, 1948. I have nothing to add to those statements.
So far as the position of Japan in regard to these Treaties is concerned, I would also refer the hon. Member to the two previous statements. I should perhaps explain that, although the Japanese Government was a signatory to the 1919 Convention of St. Germain-en-Laye, which reaffirmed the principle of freedom of trade in the territories of the Conventional Basin of the Congo, as set out in the Berlin Act of 1885, it is the view of His Majesty's Government that, since no Peace Treaty has been concluded with Japan, that country is not entitled to claim any such benefits as a matter of right from any Power which is a party to the 1919 Convention and with which Japan is still technically at war.