§ 22. Mr. Blackburnasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make on the Three-Power Declaration dated 26th February, 1948, with relation to the recent coup in Czechoslovakia; and whether any further action is contemplated by His Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. BevinNo, Sir. I think the Declaration can stand by itself. As to the second part of the Question, I would not wish at the present moment to add anything to what the Declaration says.
§ Mr. BlackburnWhile not wishing to press my right hon. Friend, may I ask whether this Declaration, which is widely supported by the British people, will be followed by a policy of concerted action with America and the freedom-loving Powers to stop the advance of the Police State, whether by force or by treachery, across Europe and the world before it is too late?
§ Mr. Platts-MillsWhen my right hon. Friend, in conjunction with his colleagues from France and America made his protest about what he erroneously called a coup, was he confusing the Czechoslovak Republic with a "banana republic" in South America?
§ Mr. BevinI did not know there was a "banana republic" in South America. There may be in the Soviet Union.
§ Mr. Vernon BartlettWith reference to the right hon. Gentleman's reply to the second part of the Question, has not the time come when we should give some assurance to other countries such as Austria, which are spiritually in Western Europe but geographically in Eastern or Central Europe?
§ Mr. BartlettIt arises out of the second part of the Question.
§ 24. Mr. E. Fletcherasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is proposing to take any steps about the protest of Czechoslovakia against the recent Three-Power Declaration.