§ 18. Mr. NOEL-BAKERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information concerning an agreement between the Governments of Germany, Italy, and Japan to co-ordinate their action for the suppression of Communism; and whether he can make a statement regarding the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards such an agreement?
§ 20. Mr. KENNEDYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give any information as to an agreement between the Governments of Germany, Italy, and Japan regarding action is to be taken for the suppression of Communism; and what action is to be 825 be taken regarding the agreement in view of its possible effect on international relations?
§ Mr. EDENThe text of the Agreement signed at Berlin on 25th November by the representatives of the German and Japanese Governments was communicated shortly before publication to His Majesty's Ambassadors at Berlin and Tokyo by the Foreign Ministers of Germany and Japan. In making this communication, the German Foreign Minister assured the Ambassador that there was no kind of military or other alliance between Germany and Japan, and the Japanese Foreign Minister stated that there was no secret treaty at all. I have no information that Italy has yet entered into a similar agreement with Japan. As regards the attitude of His Majesty's Government, the House is aware that they have explicitly deprecated any tendency to divide the world into conflicting camps, especially on ideological grounds. Their policy continues to be to promote so far as lies in their power, friendly relations between all nations.
§ Mr. THORNEIs it not a fact that Italy has an agreement with Germany on this subject, and is there not now a triple alliance between the three countries?