27. Mr. MALONEasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that full particulars of the Russo-German agreement were published in the "Izvestia" in Moscow on 5th April; whether Mr. Hodgson, British Agent in Moscow, brought this to the notice of His Majesty's Government; and whether, before the Genoa Conference, he was informed by the Foreign Office or any other sources about this agreement?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe article in the "Izvestia" to which presumably the hon. Member refers makes no reference to any clauses of so far-reaching an importance as those contained in the Treaty of Rapallo, and consists of a message sent by a Soviet press agency in Hanover to which Mr. Hodgson had, I consider, no grounds for attributing any special importance. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
42. Lieut.-Colonel Sir F. HALLasked the Lord Privy Seal whether, before and subsequent to the opening of the Genoa Conference, despatches were received from the British Ambassador at Berlin dealing with the negotiations between the German and Russian Governments which led up to the Treaty recently concluded between those two countries; and, 959 if so, will he state whether such despatches will be laid upon the Table or can be issued in the form of a White Paper or otherwise for the information of Members?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINNegotiations have been proceeding intermittently between the German and Russian Governments since the beginning of the year, and reports to that effect were received from His Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin, but it was not known that any agreement resembling that which was recently concluded was impending. It is not intended to lay any despatches from His Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin on the subject of the Genoa Conference at present.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSWas the Prime Minister in full possession of these facts before he made his statement in this House before he went to Genoa?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThere is no information in the possession of His Majesty's Government to modify in any way the statement made by the Prime Minister at Genoa. The information received was so small in importance that it was not circulated.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSDid not the Foreign Office think it their duty to tell the Prime Minister that negotiations were and had been taking place between these two Governments before he went to Genoa, where he was going to meet their representatives?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI cannot say without notice exactly what information might have been conveyed to the Prime Minister, but there was no information in the possession of His Majesty's Government—and this is the statement which is of importance, and it is of great importance, because, apparently, the suggestion is that the Prime Minister made a statement not borne out by the facts—there is no information in the possession of His Majesty's Government to conflict in any way with the declaration which the Prime Minister made at Genoa the other day. His Majesty's Government were taken completely by surprise by the character of this agreement, and had no previous notice of it.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the 960 whole Russo-German Agreement was arranged within four days at Genoa, and that the Prime Minister in this House could not possibly be aware of it? [HON. MEMBERS: "HOW do you know?"] Because I was there.
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am not aware of that, and I should be surprised if it were true that the whole Agreement was arranged within four days.