§ 7. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the German proposals for an European settlement, dated 31st March, 1936, have been withdrawn or in any way modified?
§ Viscount CranborneSo far as I am aware, there has been no specific withdrawal of the pronouncement made by the German Chancellor on the date in question, but the hon. Member will be aware of subsequent statements of policy on behalf of the German Government.
§ Mr. HendersonIs it not a fact that the German Government have refused to participate in negotiations for the settlement of European problems, although in their own peace plan they advocated the holding of active negotiations?
§ Viscount CranborneI think it would not be true to say that the German Government have refused. There certainly has been considerable delay, but we still hope that negotiations will take place.
§ Captain Peter MacdonaldIt is not a fact that there were no definite proposals put forward by the German Government on 31st March?
§ Viscount CranborneThere were certain general proposals put forward by the German Chancellor.
§ 8. Mr. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Germany has entered into communication with any of the States on her southeastern or north-eastern frontiers, and, if so, which, with a view to extending to them a direct invitation to them to conclude non-aggression pacts, as indicated in paragraph 17 of the peace plan of the German Government of 31st March, 1936?
§ Viscount CranborneApart from the German-Polish Agreement of 29th January, 1934, which was; of course, concluded before the date in question, and the Austro-German Agreement of 11th July, 1936, the terms of both of which have been published, I have no information regarding any action by the German 380 Government on the lines indicated by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. HendersonDoes it not appear that the peace plan in question has been treated by the German Government as another scrap of paper?
§ Viscount CranborneNot necessarily.