HC Deb 29 June 1936 vol 314 cc25-6
49. Mr. THURTLE

asked the Prime Minister whether he was aware of the terms of the speech delivered by the Secretary of State for War in Paris on 24th June before the delivery of the speech; and whether the policy of an alliance with France, advocated in that speech, represents the present policy of His Majesty's Government?

50. Mr. SORENSEN

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the speech in Paris by the Secretary of State for War, in which he declared we entered the Great War because our vital interests were at stake and that the future responsibility of saving civilisation rested on the collaboration of France and Great Britain; and whether that speech represents the policy of His Majesty's Government?

51. Mr. A. HENDERSON

asked the Prime Minister whether the speech by the Secretary of State for War in Paris on 24th June represents the policy of His Majesty's Government?

53. Mr. SANDYS

asked the Prime Minister whether the speech made by the Secretary of State for War in Paris on 24th June, in which he stated that France's frontiers are our frontiers, represents the policy of His Majesty's Government?

Sir J. SIMON

My right hon. Friend was addressing a society which exists for the purpose of promoting friendly relations between France and Great Britain, and his remarks were, of course, not a declaration of policy but a speech devoted to stressing the elements common to the people of both countries. The place for a declaration of Government policy is the House of Commons, and that policy was fully stated by the Foreign Secretary and by the Prime Minister in the course of the Debates in this House on 18th June and 23rd June respectively. The observations of my right hon. Friend were not designed to be in conflict with their declarations at all. In fairness to my right hon. Friend I should add that he submitted a draft of his speech to the Foreign Office and subsequently altered it in certain respects in response to their suggestions. I understand that in its final form the speech did not come under the personal notice of the Foreign Secretary, but this was due to the pressure of his other engagements, and was in no way intentional.

Mr. THURTLE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these pronouncements by individual Cabinet Ministers on matters of grave policy, which conflict with the declared policy of the Government as a whole, are causing great disquiet in the country, and will he ask the Prime Minister at least to see that he gets discipline in his Cabinet?

Sir ARNOLD WILSON

Is the right hon. Gentleman also aware that it is causing real confusion and alarm among supporters of the National Government?

Sir J. SIMON

I think that if the hon. Member will look at the speech as it is recorded in the French papers it will considerably relieve him. I do not in the least admit that his remarks call for these strictures.

Mr. ATTLEE

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to the comments in the French Press in which it is not treated as the speech of a private individual but as representing the policy of the Government?

Sir J. SIMON

I think the answer I have given will show quite plainly that that is not so. It was not a declaration of policy. It is not possible to control newspapers in Paris or in London, and the House should take that into account.

Major STOURTON

Is it not the fact that the speech of the Secretary of State for War would have the effect of prejudicing negotiations with Germany?

Mr. ATTLEE

In view of the reply, I will ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance, that is, the statements on foreign policy made by Ministers of the Crown.