§ 45. Mr. Manderasked the Prime Minister whether the French Government have been consulted by the British Government, and have agreed with their view, that tinder existing conditions the collective system of the League of Nations cannot be considered as operative as regards Article 16 of the Covenant; and whether France has been consulted, and agreed to negotiations between Great Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, excluding Russia, for a general European settlement?
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Chamberlain)If the hon. Member will look at the reports of the statements I made in the House on 21st and 22nd February, he will find a full expression of my views on the subjects to which he refers. I could not accept in all respects the interpretation which he places upon my remarks. As regards the attitude of the French Government, the hon. Member will no doubt have been able to inform himself from the reports of the proceedings of the recent debate in the French Chamber. With regard to the second part of the question, there is no proposal at present, so far as I am aware, of the kind to which the hon. Member refers. But I need hardly repeat what has already been made plain on more than one occasion that His Majesty's Government intend, as in the past, to remain in close consultation with the French Government on all matters of common concern to the two Governments.