§ 4. Mr. Thorneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information in connection with the Franco-Russian pact; whether it is an offensive alliance or a defensive alliance; whether, in the view of his advisers, Article 1 of the treaty is in conformity with Article 10 of the Covenant of the League of Nations; and whether he can give any other information about the matter?
§ Mr. EdenThe hon. Member will find the text of the Franco-Soviet Agreement, together with other relevant information, in Command Paper 5143 of 1936. As regards the second part of the question, this Agreement is described in the protocol of signature as a mutual assistance agreement, and the case against which it provides is an unprovoked attack upon either signatory by a European State. The answer to the third part is Yes, Sir.
§ Mr. ThorneDo I understand from that answer that, in the event of aggression either by France or Germany, no action could be taken between France and Russia until the matter had been referred to the League of Nations?
§ Mr. ManderIs not this pact entirely in accordance with the Covenant of the League of Nations?