§ Mr. MORGAN JONES(by Private Notice): asked the Lord President of the Council whether he can inform the House of the object of the recent visit of the Secretary of State for War to France and of the visit of M. Barthou to this country; and whether His Majesty's Government contemplate the making of any arrangements, or have made any arrangements, with France without consultation in the League of Nations with reference to mutual action in the event of hostilities breaking out in Europe?
§ The LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (Mr. Baldwin)The recent visit to France of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War was without any political implications and was undertaken in connection with an instructional tour of the battlefields of the late War, being made by certain of our officers as a matter of interest. Such tours have taken place on more than one occasion in the past. As regards M. Barthou's visit, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs gave to the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton (Mr. Mander) on this subject on 27th June. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. JONESI am obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for that answer. May I take it that not only has the visit of the Secretary of State for War to France recently no political significance, but that the same applies to the visit of General Weygand to this country; and whether I am to understand that there is no obligation of honour involved in any of these visits, such as was involved in the visits previous to 1914?
§ Mr. BALDWINNo. There is nothing in these visits beyond what I have said in answer to the question.