asked the Prime Minister whether he will now consider bringing in regulations as regards stamping on passports, alongside the signature, the print of the right thumb of the holder of the passport, solely for the purpose of identification when travelling abroad?

As my hon. Friend was informed by the late Foreign Secretary on 1st December last, there are, apart from the objection which exists in the mind of the public to any requirement of fingerprints, many insurmountable difficulties in the way of the adoption of such a system. My Noble Friend is not convinced that any substantial public benefit would accrue from its adoption.

Is my hon. Friend aware of the existence of large numbers of forged passports on the Continent of Europe and elsewhere; and does he not think that this would give the authorities some means of curtailing these forgeries?

I should want further evidence that the statement which my hon. Friend has made represents the position.

Will not the Government withdraw the passport system altogether?

asked the Prime Minister whether the British Government have approved the plan for a motor-highway to be built between Silesia and Austria across Czechoslovakia, such highway to become German territory, in view of the fact that such proposal was not contemplated in the Munich Agreement and was one of the proposals in the pre-Munich plans of the Reich Government which was dropped owing to British opposition?

No, Sir. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on Monday to my hon. Friends the Members for Thornbury (Sir D. Gunston) and Widnes (Mr. Pilkington). I know of no foundation for the statement made at the end of his question.

May I take it that the statement in the "Times" to that effect is entirely incorrect?

The hon. Gentleman may take my statement as correct.

Will the Under-Secretary have another look at the "Times" of 23rd November, where it was there described by the Berlin correspondent as being part of the Munich plan and of the pre-Munich plan of the German Government?

I will certainly be glad to look at the "Times" in question.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will publish as a White Paper the final delimitation of the frontiers between the German Reich and Czechoslovakia as confirmed by the Commission of Ambassadors, together with a map showing the changes beyond the 10th October line?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister whether, as the cession to Germany of a corridor 40 miles long and 60 yards wide for the purpose of the construction of a military road from Breslau to Vienna is inconsistent with the neutrality of the Czechoslovak Republic in time of war, he will say what action he proposes to take and how the United Kingdom's guarantee of the frontiers of Czechoslovakia is affected?

On the basis of such information as is in my possession, I am not in a position to confirm the assumption in the hon. Member's question and I would refer him to the reply to my hon. Friends, the hon. and gallant Member for Thornbury (Sir D. Gunston) and the hon. Member for Widnes (Mr. Pilkington) on 28th November, to which I have at present nothing to add.

Does it mean that this corridor is not to be German territory as we have been informed?

We have not received final information on the matter.

On a point of Order. Having regard to the Rules of the House which do not allow an hon. Member to ask more than three questions, is there any limit, having regard to the interests of other hon. Members, as to the number of supplementary questions which can be asked in circumstances which deprive a large number of hon. Members of an opportunity of asking a question?

I have always taken the view and have said so on more than one occasion that the putting of supplementary questions is a matter within my discretion.

Is it in order for an hon. Member to question the discretion of the Chair in a matter of this sort?

The hon. Member is in order in putting the point.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any information and can state the present position and situation existing in Sinkiang and Outer Mongolia; whether a British Consulate-General is established at Kashgar; can he state the number of British residents in this district; and in what manner British interests are represented?

Peace has been restored throughout the province of Sinkiang after the disturbances of last year. My Noble Friend has no special information about the situation in Outer Mongolia. There is a British Consul-General at Kashgar, who represents British interests there. In 1936–37 there were about 600 residents of British nationality in Sinkiang.

Are we to understand that where there is no British consul his Majesty's Government ask the consuls of other Governments to look after British interests?

I have given the precise information for which the hon. Member has asked.

Has the hon. Gentleman no information about British residents in 1936, and is he not keeping in touch with the matter?

Naturally it takes some time to get information from this district, and I have given the statistics that I have in my possession.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the attempts being made by the Japanese naval mission at Tsingtao to control British exports from China; and what action he is taking to prevent this interference with legitimate British trade?

asked the Prime Minister by what right the Japanese naval mission at Tsingtao recently refused to allow a local British firm to export 28 cases of bristles?

A system has for some months been in force at Tsingtao under which, in addition to the usual Customs formalities, traders have had to obtain export permits from the Japanese Naval Mission. His Majesty's Government do not admit the right of the Japanese naval authorities to insist on this requirement. They have made representations to the Japanese authorities in cases where interference with British shipments has occurred, and they will continue to do so when occasion requires.

Will the hon. Member do something further, in order to get some definite action taken?

We are doing our best, in difficult circumstances.

asked the Prime Minister by what right a British firm at Tsingtao were recently prevented by the Japanese naval mission from shipping a case of steel samples to their agency in Shanghai, and have been directed in future to apply for permission to the Japanese Consulate through the British Consul-General?

My Noble Friend has received no official information regarding this particular case, but he is making inquiries.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has yet received a satisfactory reply to the representations made, both in Shanghai and Tokyo, that the restrictions which prevent Chinese workmen employed in British factories from travelling in tramcars to their work should be removed?

The position remains unsatisfactory, and His Majesty's Government are continuing to press the matter with the Japanese authorities.

Is my hon. Friend satisfied with the attitude that is being taken up by the Japanese Government on this matter? I have raised this point time and again. I raised it on 25th July, and my hon. Friend told me that protests were being made to the Japanese authorities. Is there nothing more that we can do? Can we not do something to get this right of British subjects recognised?

I am sorry that the position remains unsatisfactory, but the employés of the tram company are now able to travel in the trams proceeding to Yangtze-poo for overhaul.

Is it not adding insult to injury to be told that they are allowed to travel in the trams? It is not a question of the workers travelling in the trams but of the workers going to the factories.

Does the Under-Secretary realise that many industries belonging to British owners have been ruined? Will he not make even stronger representations than before?

The supplementary questions indicate the importance which is attached to these matters.

asked the Prime Minister for what purpose he intends to visit Italy in the near future?

asked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to accept the invitation of the Italian Government to visit Signor Mussolini in Rome in the near future?

I have gladly accepted this opportunity of following up and maintaining the personal contact which I recently made with Signor Mussolini at Munich.

Am I right in assuming that the right hon. Gentleman does not propose taking this House into his confidence before he embarks on this journey?

Answer!

Mr. Speaker, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman this question: Will he give the House the assurance that on this visit substantial British interests will not be bartered and exchanged for his appeasement policy?

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to visit Signor Mussolini before there has been a cessation of intervention in Spain and of attacks by Italian airmen on British ships?

The date of the visit has not yet been fixed.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether that is a consideration he is bearing in mind, and whether he thinks that to promote appeasement he should visit Signor Mussolini until there has been some sign of appeasement on that side?

I think that it might have a beneficial effect.

In view of the fact that the Italian Prime Minister stated that he accepted in principle the intention of the Prime Minister to visit Italy, may I ask the Prime Minister, first, what he understands by "in principle," and, secondly, whether the invitation to visit Rome emanated from Signor Mussolini or from His Majesty's Government?

In answer to the first part of the question, the acceptance "in principle" meant subject to the fixing of a date: and with regard to the second part, Signor Mussolini spoke to me about a visit to Rome when I was in Munich.

Can the Prime Minister say whether he proposes to pay a visit to Burgos on the way back?

asked the Prime Minister whether negotiations have been opened between His Majesty's Government and the Italian Government with a view to a definite agreement on the boundaries between the Sudan, Kenya, and British Somaliland on the one side and Italian East Africa on the other, and with regard to other questions affecting British and Italian interests, respectively, as provided in the Anglo-Italian Agreement?

Negotiations have not yet been opened, but it is expected that they will begin shortly.

Can the Under-Secretary say whether it is intended to invite the Egyptian Government to participate in this conference?

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the Egyptian Government are interested in many of these questions, and there will be close collaboration with them.

Is it possible in the meanwhile for my right hon. Friend to make arrangements for the obtaining of water over the border, especially water for cattle—such arrangements as existed before Abyssinia was annexed, and the absence of which is causing trouble?

All matters that are causing trouble will, no doubt, form the subject of these negotiations.

asked the Prime Minister what steps are being taken by the British consular authorities in the Spanish Republic to expedite the return of the demobilised members of the British battalion of the International Brigade?

asked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to state when the British section of the International Brigade of volunteers who were engaed in Spain are likely to reach this country?

asked the Prime Minister whether he has considered the representations of relatives of British volunteers who have been withdrawn from the Spanish Government forces for weeks and are now on the French-Spanish border; and whether he will take steps to expedite the return of these men to this country?

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make any statement about the obstacles raised by the French Government to the return of British volunteers from Spain to England through France?

His Majesty's Government have taken steps to facilitate the repatriation of these volunteers, including those referred to by the hon. Member for Central Hackney (Mr. Watkins), but the administrative difficulties connected with establishing the identities of large numbers of men, most of whom left this country without passports, and with obtaining permission for them to travel through France, have inevitably taken some little time to overcome. I am glad to say that, thanks largely to the helpful attitude of the French Government, the necessary arrangements are now virtually complete, and although I cannot promise any definite date, it is expected that the men will leave for this country in a week or ten days' time.

In view of the fact that these men have been demobilised for two months and have been waiting and expecting week after week to be returned, will the Minister see that everything possible is done to get them home as soon as possible?

I appreciate the anxiety of the hon. Member, and that is why we have taken particular trouble to overcome the difficulties to which I have referred.

Are we to understand that the cost of repatriating these volunteers of the International Brigade is falling upon the British taxpayer?

No, Sir, not necessarily so. Anyone who is in a position to refund the cost will be asked to do so.

Is the hon. Member aware that nationals of other countries have been repatriated in a much smaller space of time than our own countrymen? Will he do his utmost to get these men back as soon as possible?

Certainly. That is our object.

Was it not understood that the cost of repatriation should be borne by the countries represented on the Non-Intervention Committee? Why should these men have to pay their own costs, when they have voluntarily come back?

If the hon. Lady will refer to my answer she will see that if any volunteer is able to refund the cost of his repatriation, it seems reasonable that he should do so. Under the Non-Intervention Committee's plan, part of the cost would have have been borne by the countries concerned.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will ask General Franco to effect the immediate release of all prisoners held by him who are British subjects?

His Majesty's Government consider that these prisoners' release can best be effected on an exchange basis, and I am glad to say that negotiations for such an exchange are now almost completed.

Exchanged for whom? For British prisoners in the hands of the Spanish Government?

These matters are in the hands of the Commission under Sir Philip Chetwode, and I should require notice of any further question.

asked the Prime Minister how many British ships have been hit by air-bombs in Spanish Government ports since 1st October last?

According to my Noble Friend's information, nine British ships have received direct hits in Spanish Government ports during this period.

Can the hon. Member say how many protests have been made to General Franco and Signor Mussolini?

I cannot, without notice, give the exact number of protests that have been made to the Burgos authorities.

Have any protests been made since 1st October?

No doubt, protests have been made where we have regarded the attacks as deliberate.

May I ask the Prime Minister whether we may take it that when he goes to Rome he will raise specifically the attacks by bombing planes on British ships, to the great danger of British lives and British property?

rose—

The Prime Minister!

On a point of Order. May I put it to you, Mr. Speaker, that we understood many months ago that the Prime Minister would answer questions put to him in this House on foreign policy? In this case a matter affecting his own personal action has been put to him, and we are entitled to a reply?

I take it the Prime Minister can discriminate between one question and another.

When this matter was raised, it was specifically stated by the Prime Minister that on matters involving policy, main matters, he would answer when he was present. He is present now. He has had a question put to him specifically relating to his own personal activities, and it is not fair to the House that it should be put off, and put on to the Under-Secretary.

I have no objection to answering the question, if I am allowed to do so. I said before I went to Paris that I was not prepared to say before-hand what was going to be discussed, and I am in the same position to-day with regard to my visit to Signor Mussolini.

asked the Prime Minister whether Signor Mussolini made it plain in the first conversations between His Majesty's Government and the Italian Government in the month of March, 1938, that he was not prepared to see General Franco defeated?

No, Sir.

May I ask on what evidence His Majesty's Government founded the view expressed by the Foreign Secretary in the House of Lords that Signor Mussolini had made it plain in the first conversations that he was not prepared to see Franco beaten?

The conversations to which my Noble Friend referred had relation to the bringing into force of the Anglo-Italian Agreement.

Is it not a fact that there is not one word in the Foreign Secretary's speech about conversations relating to the bringing into force of the Treaty? He only referred to the first conversations, which took place in March.

I am told by my Noble Friend that the conversations he had in mind were the conversations relating to the coming into force of the Agreement.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at an early date.

(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister what replies have been received by His Majesty's Consul at Palma, and by the British Agent at Burgos, to their request for the release of the wheat ships; by what type of vessel these ships were captured, and why there was a delay of five days in demanding the release of the "Mount Cynthos"; and whether other British cargoes are similarly held by the Spanish rebel forces?

My Noble Friend hopes shortly to receive reports from the British Agent at Burgos and His Majesty's Consul at Palma. The instructions to which the right hon. Gentleman refers were despatched as soon as full details of the nature of the cargo of the "Mount Cynthos" were available. Certain other foreign ships with British cargoes have been held, and representations have been made.

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the failure of His Majesty's Government to take effective action to secure the immediate release of British cargoes illegally held by the Spanish rebels.

The right hon. Gentleman asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public import- ance, namely, "the failure of His Majesty's Government to take effective action to secure the immediate release of British cargoes illegally held by the Spanish rebels." The question is still under consideration and communications are going on with the authorities, and I certainly could not allow the right hon. Gentleman's request.

On a point of Order. May I draw your attention to the fact that ineffective protests of this character have been going on for months, and that the appearance of an order or a British warship at Palma would secure the immediate release of these vessels?

The right hon. Gentleman must remember that the Standing Order under which he asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House is that it must be on a definite matter of urgent public importance.

I know, Sir, but the definiteness is the capture of British cargoes and the urgency is the failure of the Government to secure their release, which could be done in half an hour if they wished to do it.

That is a matter of opinion.

May I submit to you, Mr. Speaker, that this matter is of the most definite and urgent importance, because of the hourly effect upon our commerce in London? I put it to the House yesterday, to the Under-Secretary of State, that the insurance rates had already risen in 24 hours from 7s. 6d. to 40s. per cent. because of the seizure of these ships. I am assured this morning that later in the day many contracts of insurance had risen to 10 guineas per cent. and that the whole, immediate, commercial position is endangered by the failure of the Government to take action effectively on 24th November. It is now 30th November, and still the position is in chaos.

All that may be quite true, but it does not alter my opinion.

Are we to understand that the Government look upon a complete act of piracy as something about which they should negotiate?

On the matter of urgency, may I mention that I understand, although I have no official confirmation, that a third ship has been taken to Palma with another British cargo? May I urge that as a consideration why the Government should take immediate and effective action?

It is perfectly clear to me that the matter which the right hon. Gentleman is raising does not come under the Standing Order.

May I ask you, Mr. Speaker, what action it is possible for this House to take when there is a matter which requires, in the opinion of many Members, urgent action and the Government do not propose to take any urgent, immediate action at all? I am submitting to you that the purpose of the Standing Order is to allow this House immediately to bring before the Government, the House and the country something that requires immediate action, and in view of what my right hon. Friend the Member for Hillsborough (Mr. Alexander) has said of the effect of what is going on at this moment, our demand is that something should be done to stop it at once.

I understand that the Government are now engaged in negotiations.

The point is that we have had no suggestion by the Government that they are taking urgent action. I would remind you that during the last two years we have been told again and again that representations are being made, and all our experience is that nothing whatever happens after the representations. That is why we are asking for more drastic action in this case in view of its grave repercussions on British commerce.

I submit, in view of what the right hon. Gentleman has said, that the Government have taken what, obviously, must be the first step to be taken in a matter of this kind, namely, to make representations to the authorities concerned. Our agent is now at this moment engaged in these representations, and until we get his report it is impossible for us to take any further action.

In these matters where there is a grave issue at stake it is usual for a Government that means business to demand an answer—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"]—yes, to demand a reply at once or within a certain period of time, and we have had no indication whatever from the Government—

On a point of Order.

We can have only one point of Order at a time. I understand the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition is putting his point of Order.

The point I am putting is that we are asking what effective action will be taken immediately, but all that we have had as a reply from the Government is that they are pursuing what, in our view, is the usual dilatory course of action in any complaint made in matters of this kind. We wish for some assurance—and that is why we are asking leave to move the Adjournment—that there will be something more than the kind of representations and dilatory methods that we have had during the last two years on all these questions.

On a point of Order. Before you deal, Mr. Speaker, with the point raised by the right hon. Gentleman, may I ask whether it is competent for hon. Members to make controversial speeches in raising a point of Order?

May I put this point to the Prime Minister? You have ruled, Mr. Speaker, that this is not a matter you can accept as coming under the Standing Order, and I do not see that there is anything else that the House can do but accept your Ruling. Surely, however, the Government will not evade discussion on a point of this importance, and surely the Prime Minister will make time available at the earliest possible moment for a discussion.

I do not know whether I may be allowed to say that the following report has come in at this moment from Palma:

"Ships not yet released; mistake is admitted and is acknowledged."

In view of the admission by the rebel Powers that they have seized British cargoes, are the Government prepared to demand that they shall at once be released?

May I draw attention to the fact that the delay was not unreasonable as these ships had already run contraband cargo into Government ports?

We cannot have a debate on the subject.

Arising from the Prime Minister's reply, for which I thank him, is it not a fact that the masters of these ships carried certificates from the British Consul certifying that they were British-owned cargoes?

I want to ask your guidance, Mr. Speaker, on this point. Is it in order to ask the Prime Minister, in view of the explicit statement he has made, whether these ships will be released immediately?

The question cannot be discussed now.

On a point of Order. May I say with great respect to you, Mr. Speaker, that it is not my fault that I have to raise this question after a long series of previous questions, but I have risen at least six times before? I desire to ask you whether you will consider a further aspect of this matter, namely, the constraint of British officers of the British Mercantile Marine and seamen, and how long they must be illegally constrained before a matter of this importance can be brought up for discussion?

That is not a point of Order.

asked the Prime Minister whether the League of Nations has officially recognised that a settlement has been reached, in accordance with international law, between the Ethiopian and Italian Governments?

No, Sir.

In view of the fact that His Majesty's Government have concluded agreements with Italy while she is out-with the law of nations, and a breaker of treaties to which His Majesty's Government have subscribed—

The hon. Member must not put in the form of a supplementary question, a question which would not be allowed to be put on the Paper.

On a point of Order. The question on the Paper asks whether the League of Nations has officially recognised that a settlement has been reached, in accordance with international law, between the Ethiopian and Italian Governments. The hon. Member has replied, "No." I want to put a supplementary question in order to get further information.

Does it not follow from the Minister's answer that the position of the Italian Government is in point of fact, that of a covenant-breaking aggressor?

That is not for me to decide.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of British engagements to France, the French treaties of alliance with Russia, Rumania, Poland, and Yugoslavia are still in force?

The hon. Member, no doubt, has in mind the Franco-Soviet Treaty of mutual assistance of 2nd May, 1935, the Franco-Polish Treaty of mutual guarantee of 16th October, 1925, the Franco-Rumanian Treaty of friendship of 10th June, 1926, and the Franco-Yugoslav Treaty of friendly understanding of nth November, 1927. So far as His Majesty's Government are aware, these treaties are all still in force.

Have the Government definitely inquired from the French Government whether they are in force?

No, Sir. As far as we are aware, they are in force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he proposes to take to give effect to the recommendations of Major Orde Browne regarding native labour conditions in Northern Rhodesia?

Proposals for the appointment of a Labour Commissioner and of labour officers, as recommended by Major Orde Browne, have been submitted to me by the Governor, and provision for this purpose is being made in the 1939 Estimates. A labour officer of Northern Rhodesia in Southern Rhodesia has been appointed. The arrangements for recruiting from Barotseland on the lines proposed by Major Orde Browne have formed the subject of discussions between the Governor of Northern Rhodesia and representatives of the Witwatersrand Mines. These, and the other recommendations and suggestions put forward in Major Orde Browne's valuable report, are receiving active consideration.

Is it intended to set up a new labour Department to deal with these matters in view of the report and other statements which are calculated to raise disquiet?

I have said that the appointment of these officers is receiving consideration.

When considering these recommendations will the right hon. Gentleman keep in mind the great feeling there is that the penal sanctions should be abolished?

The whole question of penal sanctions is under consideration at the present moment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the increase of African labour in the mines of the Gold Coast, he will give instructions that the regulations regarding safety shall be strictly enforced in order that the occurrence of accidents through the neglect of such precautions, as recorded in the report of the chief inspector of mines, shall not again occur?

I am taking up with the Governor as a matter of great importance the question of the best means of ensuring that the regulations are strictly observed.

Is the Minister satisfied that there has been great laxity over this business?

There has been some laxity.

Will you put the screw on now?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the complaints of British residents in Hong Kong against the action of the British censor there in withdrawing the licence previously given by him for the public exhibition of the feature film, "Inside Nazi Germany"; whether he is aware that this action was taken after the British censor had been in consultation with the German Consulate; and whether he will have inquiry made into the matter?

I am informed that, prior to the receipt of any representations from the German Consulate, the Hong Kong censor had viewed this film and reserved judgment on it. After a second view, subsequent to the receipt of representations from the German Consul-General, the censor passed the film for silent exhibition only, and it was shown as such. On appeal against this decision the Board of Censors unanimously confirmed it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether and when the recommendations of the West African Cocoa Commission, respecting the abolition of the buyers' monopoly and the formation of a sellers' organisation, are likely to be implemented?

The recommendations regarding the formation of a sellers' organisation are of a far-reaching nature. They are receiving very careful consideration in consultation with the Governors of the Colonies concerned, but it is not yet possible to state whether or when they will be carried into effect. The buying agreement was suspended by the parties to it last May and has not been resumed.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say the approximate date when this proposal will be put into effect?

I am afraid that I cannot give any approximate date. It is a very far reaching proposal, and is being considered with as little delay as possible.

Can we have the right hon. Gentleman's assurance as Secretary of State that there will be no renewal of the buyers' monopoly with the approval of the Secretary of State?

I should require notice of an important question like that before I give a definite assurance. All sorts of circumstances have to be borne in mind.

Can the Secretary of State give the names of this buyers' monopoly? Is it not associated in this country with an organisation known as the Popular Front?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will institute an inclusive charge for the registration of trade names and marks, covering all the colonies, similar in amount and scope to the scheme in operation by France covering all the French colonies, instead of, or in addition to, the separate registration for each colony?

The possibility of an Empire Trade Marks scheme was raised by the Committee which was appointed by the Board of Trade in 1933 to consider and report whether any changes were desirable in the existing law and practice relating to trade marks. Its report is Cmd. 4568. I am advised that as a result of inquiries subsequently made, there did not appear to be sufficient prospect of practical support for an Imperial trade marks scheme to justify His Majesty's Government in pursuing the matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that since this date the competition which any set of goods has to meet in the Colonies is so keen that it is driving British producers out of the colonial market?

I have not had representations from the interests concerned about it lately, but I am prepared to look into it again and see whether circumstances have changed since the last inquiry four years ago.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that pressure and menaces are being used to compel German nationals in Tanganyika to become members of the Nazi League; has he any information regarding the activities, methods, and objects of the Nazi League in Tanganyika; and is he taking any steps to safeguard the civil liberties of the residents in Tanganyika?

As regards the first part of the question, I am aware that allegations to this effect have been made, but I have received no evidence to indicate that there has been any illegal activity on the part of the Nazi organisation. A careful watch on this organisation is maintained by the Government of Tanganyika Territory. The hon. Member can rest assured that all residents in the territory are afforded the full protection of the law.

Would not this problem, and also the uncertainty which exists in Tanganyika, be solved if we made it perfectly clear that in no circumstances would we ever hand back the Mandate?

Will the right hon. Gentleman make special inquiries to see whether these allegations were well founded?

I have asked the Governor recently for a report on the whole matter, and I will see that this particular aspect of it is included in the inquiry. With regard to the other question, I think the statement which was made the other day by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has reassured the people of the Territory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to any attempt, by use of threats, to force any British subject of German ancestry resident in Tanganyika, to go to Germany for military training; and will he cause inquiries to be made as to the extent to which intimidation of this kind is being used in Tanganyika?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. If the hon. Member has information on the subject, I shall be glad to receive it in order that I may make inquiries.

Is the Minister prepared to give a guarantee of security to persons giving the information, since that is the difficulty?

Perhaps the hon. Member will communicate with me, and I will consider the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any report of the circumstances in which British troops shot and killed a 65-year old man, Mussa Shman, at Beithanina village, Palestine, on 18th November last?

I have no information about this matter, but I will ask the High Commissioner for a report.

If the information, when it has been supplied, proves that this is correct, and if he was an innocent man, will steps be taken to see that his family receives some consideration and compensation?

I shall have to consider the question on receiving a report, and until then I cannot make any statement.