§ 3. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at what time, and under what conditions, the British guarantee to assist Jugoslavia, Greece and Turkey against an Italian attack will be terminated; and to what extent the guarantee differs from the terms of the Covenant of the League of Nations?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on this particular point in the course of the Debate on 18th June, to which I have nothing to add. With regard to the second part, the assurances in question arise out of paragraph 3 of Article 16 of the Covenant and cannot, therefore, be said to differ from it.
§ Mr. MANDERHas any progress been made towards appointing a date for this arrangement to come to an end?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEI am afraid I cannot at present add to my right hon. Friend's answer.
§ 46. Mr. LEACHasked the Prime Minister in what way he proposes to implement the pledge of protection to Mediterranean League Powers?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)The actual steps which would be taken by His Majesty's Government to implement the assurances in question would obviously depend on the circumstances of the aggression against which the assurances were intended to provide a guarantee. I would, however, remind the hon. Member that these assurances are purely provisional and that His Majesty's Government regard the eventuality to which they are intended to apply not only as hypothetical but as improbable.
§ Mr. LEACHWhile trusting that the right hon. Gentleman is fully restored to health, does not his answer mean the throwing over of the Home Secretary when he declared something very different quite recently?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNot that I am aware of.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am not aware of that.
§ Mr. MANDERIs it clear that on this Occasion, and for this purpose, the Government are prepared to risk a British ship?