§ 7. Colonel WEDGWOODasked 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. CHAMBERLAINHis 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 WEDGWOODCan 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 2008 think it necessary to make any representations beyond that which I have mentioned here, nor was I asked to do so by anybody else.