HC Deb 07 December 1938 vol 342 cc1166-7
46. Sir Adrian Baillie

asked the Prime Minister why it was considered desirable or necessary to give the assent and approval of His Majesty's Government to the forthcoming visit of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Eden) to the United States of America; and will he make a statement on the subject?

The Prime Minister

My Noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in the passage referred to, was replying to an accusation that the Government had neglected opportunities of maintaining contact with the United States of America. He stated that this was not the case and called attention, among other things, to the visit of my right hon. Friend the Member for Warwick and Leamington who, as a prominent British statesman, could be relied upon to place the British point of view before the American public, and whose visit had been undertaken with the assent and approbation of the Government.

Sir A. Baillie

In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Warwick and Leamington is not presently a member of His Majesty's Government and is, in fact, only a back-bencher like myself, would His Majesty's Government be prepared to give their assent and approval to the forthcoming visit to the United States of the hon. Member for Tonbridge?

Mr. Shinwell

On his visit to the United States will the right hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington state to the American public the differences between himself and the Prime Minister?

The Prime Minister

I cannot answer for what my right hon. Friend will state.

Mr. Attlee

Will the giving of this assent and approval lend to any speech made by the right hon. Gentleman in the United States of America any official significance?

The Prime Minister

No, Sir.

Mr. Mander

Are not the Government obviously very much relieved that the right hon. Gentleman has left the country?