asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any communication has been received from the Union of South Africa, or whether it is proposed that any consultation shall take place with reference to possible Italian penetration of Abyssinia?

Mr. MacDONALD:

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As to the second part, I would refer to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member on the 27th February, which applies equally to the present case.

Is it not a fact that the Union Government takes a very serious view of this matter, and will not my hon. Friend keep in close touch with them on this particular point?

Mr. MacDONALD:

The Union Government are being kept informed. If they take such a very serious view that they think consultation necessary, they will say that.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to give on the dispute between Italy and Ethiopia and, in particular, on the notice given by the Ethiopian Government to the League of Nations Council of their intention to request the Council again to take up the question?

On 17th March the Ethiopian Government appealed to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations, requesting that their differences with Italy should be investigated under Article XV of the Covenant and alleging inter alia that the direct negotiations entered into by both parties following the Geneva agreement of 19th January last have led to no result. Having been invited by the Secretary-General of the League to submit their observations on the Ethiopian Note, the Italian Government, while denying in their reply that they consider the phase of direct negotiations as terminated, have undertaken that if these negotiations should not lead to an argument, they will take steps forthwith with a view to the constitution of the Commission of Conciliation provided for by Article 5 of the Italo-Ethiopian Treaty of Friendship of 1928. In these circumstances, with good will on both sides, effective progress may now be made by further direct negotiations between both parties in accordance with their undertakings to the Council of the League.

In the meantime, is the appeal to the Council of the League still in existence, or has it been withdrawn?

I do not think it has been withdrawn.