§ 5. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the French guarantee of military support to Great Britain in the event of unprovoked aggression includes the Irish Free State?
§ Mr. EDENIt is not for me to define the scope of the assurance given by the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, but his statement, which I quoted in reply to a question by the hon. Member on Thursday last, refers to "the defence of Great Britain."
§ Mr. MANDERIs it not of the utmost importance that the countries concerned should know exactly where they stand, and could not the right hon. Gentleman ask the French Government for further information on the subject?
§ Mr. EDENThe hon. Member will understand that this is a unilateral declaration by the French Government. We had no assurance of this kind at all under the Locarno Treaty.