§ 14. Mr. Bellengerasked the Prime Minister whether, following on the statement made by the German Chancellor in his speech on Sunday, 20th February last, intimating the determination of Germany to recover their former colonies, His Majesty's Government have received any official intimation from the German Government regarding a return to them of these colonies; and whether His Majesty's 1084 Government have any proposals in mind to resolve this question, either by unilateral conversations with Germany or in conjunction with other Powers who were allocated former German colonies at the end of the Great War?
§ The Prime MinisterIf the object of the hon. Member's question is to inquire whether the German Chancellor's speech to the Reichstag has been supplemented by an official communication from the German Government to His Majesty's Government on the subject of colonies, the answer is in the negative. As regards the second part of the question, I have nothing to add to previous statements on this subject.
§ Mr. BellengerMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman, first, whether, in view of the declaration which was made by the German Chancellor, His Majesty's Government have caused any inquiries to be made in Berlin, and secondly, whether, now that the right hon. Gentleman is committed to a policy of appeasement, he prefers to ignore this subject, which has been very plainly brought to his notice?
§ The Prime MinisterAs regards the first part of the supplementary question, the answer is in the negative. As regards the second part, I have nothing to add to the statement I have made.
§ Mr. Wedgwood BennIs it conceivable that the Chancellor's speech was based on anything in the Halifax-Hitler conversations?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is a question of opinion what the speech was based on.