Oral Answers to Questions — India. – in the House of Commons at on 5 June 1939.
Mr Reginald Fletcher
, Nuneaton
asked the Prime Minister whether he can now make a statement regarding the representation of British interests in Bohemia and Moravia?
Sir Percy Harris
, Bethnal Green South West
asked the Prime Minister whether any decision has been arrived at about consular representation in Prague?
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
My Noble Friend is in communication with other interested Governments on this matter, and I have no further statement to make at present.
Mr Reginald Fletcher
, Nuneaton
Can the right hon. Gentleman tell the House who is at the present moment looking after British interests in those countries?
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
The Vice-Consul.
Sir Percy Harris
, Bethnal Green South West
asked the Prime Minister whether he can make a statement as to the present position in Danzig?
Mr Neville Chamberlain
, Birmingham, Edgbaston
I have no special statement to make on the situation in Danzig.
Sir Percy Harris
, Bethnal Green South West
Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the matter was discussed by the Foreign Secretary at Geneva when the position of the Commissioner was discussed?
Mr Neville Chamberlain
, Birmingham, Edgbaston
Perhaps the hon. Baronet will put that question down.
Mr Wilfrid Roberts
, Cumberland Northern
asked the Prime Minister what has happened to the British Legation in Albania; whether there is any British representative in that country; and whether he can give an assurance that nothing has been done to recognise its annexation by Italy?
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
His Majesty's Minister is still in Durazzo. On the question of the recognition of the new status of Albania, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. and learned Member for Kingswinford (Mr. A. Henderson) on 26th April, to which I have at present nothing to add.
Mr Wilfrid Roberts
, Cumberland Northern
May I ask in what capacity His Majesty's Minister is there at the present time?
Sir Archibald Sinclair
, Caithness and Sutherland
Is it not time that the Government made up their minds whether they are going to recognise Albania or not? Cannot the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that they will not?
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
I am not prepared to make a statement on that point. What I said in reply to the hon. Member for Kingswinford was that the matter will fall to be considered when the constitutional position and future relations between Italy and Albania, as well as the international position of Albania particularly in the sphere of foreign relations, become clearly defined, as they are not at present.
Mr Wilfrid Roberts
, Cumberland Northern
If we have a Minister there, surely he must be a Minister to the King of Albania, and that means we have recognised him?
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
No, Sir.
Mr. David Adams:
asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of his public declaration before the Munich conversations that it was of great benefit for the heads of States to confer personally, he has considered, or will consider, the desirability of making an official visit to Moscow?
Mr Neville Chamberlain
, Birmingham, Edgbaston
The declaration in question was, of course, subject to considerations affecting the conditions at any particular time. In present circumstances, I do not consider that the suggestion of the hon. Member would serve a useful purpose.
Mr. Adams:
As the Prime Minister, during recent negotiations, has stated that there are certain barriers between this country and Russia, does he not feel that a personal visit would remove this undesirable phenomenon?
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.