HC Deb 20 December 1938 vol 342 cc2637-9
2. Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he has now any statement to make on his conversations with Mr. Pirow?

Mr. M. MacDonald

When Mr. Pirow was in London a fortnight ago he gave to a number of Ministers here an account of the impressions which he gathered during his journey through Europe, and these were discussed with him. Beyond certain talks on questions of trade and communications, his conversations with members of the Governments of the various countries he visited were informal and personal, and I have no statement to make upon them.

Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

May I ask whether, in the course of his conversations with His Majesty's Government, any discrepancy was discovered between the views of the British Government and the Union Government as regards the cession of Mandated Territories to Germany?

Mr. MacDonald

Obviously, I cannot report the upshot of private and personal conversations, but an answer is to be given later on the attitude of the Dominion Governments towards the question of the cession of territories.

Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

Was anything detrimental to British trading interests revealed as a result of these conversations between Mr. Pirow and members of foreign Governments?

Mr. MacDonald

Not that I am aware of.

Mr. Arthur Henderson

May we take it that His Majesty's Government do not agree with the pessimistic outlook of Mr. Pirow as regards the possibility of war in the spring?

Mr. MacDonald

The attitude of His Majesty's Government has been very faithfully stated by the Prime Minister and other Ministers.

5. Sir Charles Cayzer

asked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether, on the occasion of Mr. Pirow's visit to this country, the opportunity was taken of considering the adequacy of the arrangements for insuring the naval defence of the South African Union in time of war; and whether any consideration was given to the desirability of the Union Government undertaking a larger share in the joint naval defence of Union territory in the future?

Mr. MacDonald

The object of Mr. Pirow's visit was to discuss certain technical aspects of the Defence programme of the Union of South Africa, including questions of naval defence, and the questions involved were settled as a result of discussion with him. As to the details of the discussions, I cannot anticipate any statement which Mr. Pirow may make after his return to South Africa, since this is a matter for His Majesty's Government in the Union of South Africa.

Sir C. Cayzer

In view of the fact that the Union of South Africa is the only Dominion which has no naval forces of any kind, and in view of the fact that the very existence of the Union depends on naval security, will not my right hon. Friend take an early opportunity of suggesting that the Union Government should contribute some naval units towards the joint defence of Union territory?

Mr. MacDonald

I think my hon. Friend is aware that the Minister of Defence in the Union did recently announce the expenditure of very considerable sums of money on the defence of the Union, and a good deal of that, of course, is involved in certain naval defences.