§ 46. Sir P. Harrisasked the Prime Minister whether he will publish as a White Paper the correspondence between him and Signor Mussolini?
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Chamberlain)No, Sir. This correspondence was personal, but I have no objection to telling 915 the House the purport of it. At the end of July last the Italian Ambassador brought me a message from Signor Mussolini of a friendly character. I took advantage of the opportunity to send Signor Mussolini a personal letter expressing my regret that relations between Great Britain and Italy were still far from that old feeling of mutual confidence and affection which lasted for so many years. I went on to state my belief that those old feelings could be restored if we could clear away certain misunderstandings and unfounded suspicions, and I declared the readiness of His Majesty's Government at any time to enter upon conversations with that object. I was glad to receive from Signor Mussolini immediately a reply in which he expressed his own sincere wish to restore good relations between our two countries and his agreement with the suggestion that conversations should be entered upon in order to ensure the desired understanding between the two countries.
§ Mr. ShinwellDoes the right hon. Gentleman observe that these friendly references have not been transferred to the Italian Press, nor do they appear in articles alleged to be written by Signor Mussolini himself?
Mr. J. J. DavidsonIs the Prime Minister satisfied that these letters have had any good effect with regard to the relations between this country and Italy?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir.