HC Deb 28 April 1926 vol 194 cc2007-8
7. Colonel WEDGWOOD

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government is associating itself in any way with M. Benesh's view that the Locarno Powers have a right to demand of the German Government that it shall not undertake an obligation of neutrality vis-a-vis Russia, which might conflict with its future obligations under an interpretation of Article 16 of the Covenant of the League'?

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

His Majesty's Government have not, been associated with any other Government in making representations to Germany about the Russo-German Treaty. As stated in the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Brightside on the 21st instant, that assurances were offered by the German Government that the Russo-German Treaty would not be inconsistent with the Covenant, and I asked Lord D'Abernon to inform the German Government, of the great importance which we necessarily attached to this point.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House the reasons for our not associating ourselves with M. Benesh's view?

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN.

No, Sir. We now have the text of the Treaty and the Notes exchanged about it. I have not had time to examine them with the care which they demand, and I desire to offer no opinion upon them until I have been able to give them proper study. But in view of the assurances which I received from the German Government, I did not think it necessary to make any representations beyond that which I have mentioned here, nor was I asked to do so by anybody else.