HC Deb 15 February 1937 vol 320 cc816-7
12. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the German Government have at any time informed His Majesty's Government of their reasons for not answering the British questionnaire dated 6th May, 1936?

Viscount Cranborne

The German Government stated from time to time in the course of last summer that no reply to His Majesty's Government's communication of 6th May was likely to be forthcoming until the formation of the new French Government or until the views of His Majesty's Government about the future of the League were known. The hon. Member will now have seen the passage on this subject in the German Chancellor's speech of 30th January last.

Mr. Henderson

Is the Under-Secretary aware that Herr Hitler in that speech stated that the German Government had found it impossible to answer the questionnaire for reasons which were appreciated by His Majesty's Government; is that statement correct; and do His Majesty's Government appreciate those reasons, and, if so, may we have the reasons?

Viscount Cranborne

He did not say that we appreciated them. He said they would certainly appreciate them. I do not know what the reasons were.