'HE attitude of the Government in regard to the effect of the Anglo-Italian agreement in relation to the stati quo in the Mediterranean, with particular reference to the position of Tunis, the event of an attack,"was defined by Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister, in the House of Commons yesterday.
When asked to give an-assurance that Great Britain would regard an attack by Italy on any French possessions as an unfriendly act, Mr, Chamberlain replied "In the view of His Majesty's Government, the undertaking to respect the status quo in the Mediterranean, as embodied in the Anglo-Italian agreement, certainly applies to Tunis and any action which was contrary to the agreement would, of course, be a matter of grave concern to His Majesty's Government."
The Government, however, added the Prime Minister, could not contemplate the possibility of such an attack as suggested in these questions, The British Government had been in touch at various times with the French and Italian Governments regarding the possibility of bringing a cessation of hostilities in Spain, declared Mr. R. A. Butler, in a statement in the House of Commons yesterday.
Mr. Buller replied in the negative when he was asked whether media tion attempts had been delayed or held up by the Government's desire for_a General Franco victory.
When asked to consider making representations to the South American republics on the matter of mediation, Mr. Butler replied that if the Government thought any success was likely, it would not eliminate such a possibility, allan Reinforcements Numerous questions were addressed to Mr, Butler yesterday on the alleged recent Italian reinforcements in Spain with relation to the Anglo-Italian treaty.
'Mr. Butler' declared he could not deny' that there had been a certain amount of assistance from Italian sources but did not think it amounted to much more than replacements.
Certainly, added Mr. Butler, it did not amount to any increase in the Personnel of Italian troops, Mr. Butler stated in the House yesterday that according to the latest gures received, which were issued on October 29, the number of United Kingdom nationals held as prisoners. of war by General Franco's administration was 86 and of Canadian nationals, 34.
Mr. Butler later added that the British Agent at Burgos, Sir Robert Hodgson, had reported that he had taken further steps to expedite the conclusion of the exchange arrangements and that he hoped that their Telease might shortly be expected—Wireless and Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.