asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that Italy is party to the Convention of St. Germain, His Majesty's Government are satisfied that the provisions of that convention and of the Berlin Act, are being observed in so far as they affect missionary and commercial activity in Abyssinian territories?

The provisions of the St. Germain Convention relating to commerce apply to territories of the signatory Powers within the area defined in the annex to Article 1 of the Convention. The former Government of Ethiopia was not a party to the Convention and only a very small portion of southern Ethiopia comes within the defined area. On the other hand, His Majesty's Government consider that the provisions of Article 11 relating to missionary activities may be held to apply to all territories in Africa of the signatory Powers and that the obligations of Italy under the Convention apply not only to territories which were Italian at the date of entry into force of the Convention, but also to territories subsequently acquired. The Italian Government have not yet declared their acceptance of His Majesty's Government's view of the legal position with regard to these two points.

In that case, is the House to understand that the British and American missionaries who were requested to leave Abyssinia during 1937 have not been permitted to return?

I should require notice of a particular instance arising out of the general statement I have made.