HC Deb 14 March 1939 vol 345 c221
77. Mr. Mander

asked the Prime Minister whether the official communication sent out by the Foreign Office on 26th September, 1938, with reference to co-operation between Great Britain, France, and Russia, against German aggression, was issued after prior consultation with the Russian Government?

The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Butler)

The answer is in the negative. In this connection I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made in the House by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 3rd October last.

Mr. Mander

Do I understand that an important statement of this kind was made without any consultation with the foreign Government concerned, and is the right hon. Gentleman realty serious in saying that?

Mr. Butler

I have given the hon. Member the correct answer to the question.

Sir Archibald Sinclair

Does the right hon. Gentleman really say that the Government undertook to tell the people of this country what the action of Russia was going to be without consulting the Russian Government?

Mr. Butler

It is difficult to deal with this matter by question and answer, and I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 3rd October.