asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government have been invited to join Spain and France in blockading the Riff; whether it is proposing to do so; and under what conditions?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:

It is not proposed by the French and Spanish Governments to declare a blockade, but merely to concert in taking measures for the policing of certain of their territorial waters and of the waters of the Tangier zone. His Majesty's Government have received in invitation from the Spanish Government to join in these measures, and I would ask the hon. Gentleman to defer any further questions while consideration is being given to the matter.

Are we to understand from the right hon. Gentleman that the Government have taken no steps in regard to the request from these foreign nations?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:

The only request I have yet received has been from the Spanish Government. We have taken no steps except to assure the Spanish Government that we shall at once consider any proposals they have to make.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the Government will be able to announce their decision as regards the blockade by sea and the passage of troops through the Tangier zone?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:

I cannot say when I shall be able to announce the decision, but I shall be happy to give the House information as soon as the decision has been arrived at. Let me repeat that there is no question of blockade.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say, then, where is the necessity for policing the territorial waters?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:

Well, Sir, the Tangier Convention provides for the neutrality of the territorial waters of Tangier, and that they should not be used for supplies to the Riffian troops.

With regard to the blockade, is it not a fact that there should be, under international law, a blockade declared before our ships are stopped and seized as prizes? What is the position in regard to that?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:

There is, I repeat, no question of a blockade. There is the question of the policing or the supervising of contraband traffic within territorial waters, which is a wholly different thing—as I need not point out to the hon. and gallant Gentleman, who is a naval officer.

Does that territorial waters neutrality apply to the use of the Tangier front by the Spanish forces?

That does not arise.

May I ask one further question? Does what has been said mean that the right hon. Gentleman has protested against any of our vessels being stopped and searched outside the three miles limit?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:

Yes, Sir. There can be no right of search on the high seas except in the case of a regular blockade, and under the conditions of strict international law. That is not suggested by the Powers concerned. What is under discussion is the supervision of the territorial waters. We have under the Tangier Convention certain obligations in respect to the territorial water? in the Tangier zone.