§ 12. Mr. COCKSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Government was kept informed of the various stages in the negotiations for the Franco-Russian pact of mutual assistance; whether, in order to meet the views of His Majesty's Government, any alterations were made in the original draft of the treaty; and whether, before it was signed, the Government raised any objection to the pact in its final form?
§ Sir S. HOAREAs regards the first part of the question, His Majesty's Government were generally informed of the progress of the negotiations for the Franco-Soviet Treaty of Mutual Assistance. As regards the second and third parts of the question, the answer is in the negative.
§ Mr. COCKSIs it a fact that the French Government were careful not to include in the treaty anything to which the British Government might object; and, if that be the case, what was the ground for the statement of the Minister for League of Nations Affairs that this agreement is on the same footing as the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, to which the French Government did object?
§ Sir S. HOAREHis Majesty's Government kept the French Government informed about the terms of the Naval Agreement, and did so to at least as full an extent as they themselves were kept informed about the Franco-Russian negotiations.