§ BRIGADIER - GENERAL SPEARS(By Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to an interview given by the French Prime Minister to the Belgian newspaper "L'Independance Beige "in which he stated that in the event of a premeditated attack by Germany he has received a firm promise that, as in 1914, England would be at the side of France and Belgium, and that he has the assurance of a definite pact binding England, France and Belgium: whether this statement is correct, and, if so, why the information was withheld from the House of Commons.
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. J. Ramsay Macdonald)I was much surprised on my arrival in town this morning to find that the conversations which took place between the French Premier and myself last week-end have been made the subject of gross mis-representation and falsification in certain newspapers. No communications in the sense of these reports have been made to me. The official communiqué covered the whole 594 ground of the conversations, and the statement which I made in reply to the Leader of the Opposition on Monday indicated quite accurately and fully the line of our thoughts as to the immediate steps that should be taken to get an agreement between the Allies upon how the Experts' Report should be put into operation. Certain statements, in particular regarding communications made by the French Government to our Ambassador in Paris, are particularly mischievous, and Lord Crewe authorises me by telephone this morning to say that they are sheer fabrications. So far as I have been able to study reports of the character referred to in the question, they are based upon confusion or upon pure imagination.
§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINAs the right hon. Gentleman refers us to the communiqué, has his attention been called to the discrepancy between the French and English versions of the communiqué; and can he say which is the one which correctly describes what was the agreement arrived at at Chequers? For instance, the words appear in English as "the conversation revealed general agreement." The expression appears in the French version as "accord complet," which is a different thing. Then the expression "common determination" in English, appears in the French communiqué as "un pacte moral." Which is the communiqué to which the right hon. Gentleman refers? This is really a very serious matter.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have looked at both communiqués and I really fail to understand the very serious discrepancy that is alleged to exist between them. According to the English translation the expression is as my right hon. Friend has said, "general agreement." The other, the French form, is "accord complet." Both expressions are intended to mean exactly the same thing. [HON. MEMBERS: "No!"]
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe term "general agreement" is meant to express this: complete agreement."[HON., MEMBERS: "No!"]
§ The PRIME MINISTER"General agreement" was meant to express this: that on a survey of the questions which faced us we were generally in agreement. 595 The French "accord complet," as I understand it, means that we were in complete accord in the survey, and in the method of approach that we should adopt to a solution. I am perfectly certain—there is no doubt whatever about it, because I have a very clear recollection of the circumstances in which the conversation took place—on that particular point. With reference to the other point, as to the moral concord or moral pact, the two responsible heads considered that the expression used in English conveyed in English precisely the same meaning that the French words conveyed in French.
Captain BENNAdverting to the first question, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman as regards the statements in "L'Independance Belge" whether made by M. Herriot or not, does he repudiate them as being an account of the incident?
§ Mr. AYLESMay I ask the Prime Minister whether it is a fact that there is no kind of undertaking with regard to a defensive military alliance as far as his conversations with M. Herriot are concerned?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAbsolutely. As far as the other question is concerned, I have no information either that M. Herriot gave an interview or that it is correctly reported, and I decline to say anything about it.
§ Mr. HOPEMay I ask if the communiqués were drawn up by the same interpreter or by different persons?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThey were drawn up together in consultation with the responsible authorities on both sides.
Captain BENNMay I ask for a specific answer? Does the right hon. Gentleman repudiate this statement in "L'Independance Belge" as representing what took place at the interview?
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYDoes the Prime Minister intend to give an interview himself to a number of journalists, as has been stated, and, if that be the case, would he consider rather the making of a statement in this House, if a further statement is required?
§ The PRIME MINISTERCertainly, if a further statement is required, I shall make it in this House and not to journalists.
§ Mr. PRINGLEAre we to understand that any statement on this matter will be made in this House before being communicated either to the Press or to a meeting of the Labour party?
§ Lieut.-Colonel JAMESMay I ask, in regard to the matter of the translation of documents, whether the right hon. Gentleman's attention was drawn to a leading article appearing two months ago in one of the French papers, in which he was referred to as "étudiant MacDonald," while they French Prime Minister was referred to as "étudiant Poincaré"?