§ 18. Mr. A. HENDERSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will specify the Governments which will be represented at the forthcoming Locarno Conference at Brussels?
§ Mr. HENDERSONWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the importance of not entering into any binding agreement at the preliminary conference which will in any way prejudice a full and free agreement being arrived at when the principal conference is held.
§ Mr. THORNEHave Germany and Italy been invited to this conference?
§ 28. Lieut.-Commander FLETCHERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Italy and Germany have been invited to attend conversations of the Locarno Powers; whether they have accepted or refused the invitation, and whether they have refused for what reason; and whether conversations which take place in the absence of Germany and Italy will, nevertheless, be communicated to those Powers?
§ Mr. EDENInvitations to a Five-Power Conference have not been issued. The Italian Government were recently invited by the Belgian Government, in accordance with the terms of the communiqué issued at Geneva on 3rd July, to take part in certain conversations with His Majesty's Government and the French and the Belgian Governments. The Italian Government, however, declined. The answer to the last part of the question is, Yes, Sir.
§ Lieut.-Commander FLETCHERIs it the case that no invitation was issued to the German Government to attend the Conference of the Locarno Powers?
§ Mr. EDENI think my answer is clear. I hope to be able to make a further statement on the subject in the course of the next day or two. Meanwhile, I hope hon. Members will not ask supplementary questions, which may make my task more difficult.