HC Deb 30 March 1936 vol 310 cc1604-5
8. Mr. MANDER

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make clear to the French Government that action against an aggressor must operate equally everywhere, and that support for France against aggression by Germany is dependent in British public opinion on French support for sanctions against Italy?

Mr. EDEN

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a somewhat similar question asked by the right hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood) on 16th December last, of which I am sending him a copy. I have nothing to add to that reply, except that any question as to whether support is due to a country must be considered in the light of the circumstances of the case and of the relevant treaty provisions.

Mr. MANDER

Is it not clear that France cannot have it both ways?

Mr. DALTON

Will the right hon. Gentleman not consider that it is very discouraging to Powers outside the Locarno area to observe how this country and France carry out their obligations under the Covenant?

Mr. EDEN

I hope there is no doubt anywhere that this country is prepared to carry out, and is carrying out, her obligations under the Covenant.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Will it not be possible for the members of the League of Nations to understand that the method in which they carry out their obligations to others must necessarily influence the way in which we carry out our obligations?