HC Deb 03 May 1939 vol 346 cc1845-8
1. Mr. Mander

asked the Prime Minister whether steps are being taken to make the guarantee given to Rumania and Greece reciprocal?

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

No, Sir.

Mr. Mander

But are the Government proposing to treat these obligations as purely one-sided? Are they not going to make them reciprocal, as in the case of Poland?

Mr. Butler

I have given the answer to that question.

Mr. Mander

Is it the objective of the Government to try to make them reciprocal, or are they one-sided?

Mr. Butler

I have just indicated what is the Government's attitude.

Mr. Bellenger

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House any indication of the reasons why the Government are not going to make these guarantees reciprocal? Are we to understand that this is their established policy?

3. Mr. Boothby

asked the Prime Minister whether he can give any information regarding the progress of the negotiations between His Majesty's Government and the Governments of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Turkey?

The Prime Minister (Mr. Chamberlain)

I would refer my hon. Friend to my statement yesterday on the negotiations with the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, to which I have nothing to add. His Majesty's Government continue to maintain close touch with the Turkish Government.

Mr. Boothby

In view of the great anxiety existing in this country regarding the delay in reaching a conclusion of the negotiations between His Majesty's Government and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, may I ask whether there is any objection in principle to our negotiating a straight pact with the Russian Government on the lines of the Franco-Soviet Pact?

Mr. Attlee

May I ask whether the account given in the "Times," often well informed on these matters, of the proposals put forward by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is substantially correct?

The Prime Minister

I could not answer that question without notice. I glanced at the statement in the "Times," but I have not any accurate memory of what it said.

7. Mr. Arthur Henderson

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that Herr Hitler has recently charged His Majesty's Government with having adopted a policy of encircling Germany, and that guarantees on a reciprocal basis were proposed by President Roosevelt in his recent peace appeal, His Majesty's Government would be willing to give a guarantee to Germany similar to that given to Poland on a reciprocal basis?

The Prime Minister

In recent statements I have made it quite clear that there is no foundation whatsoever for the charge that His Majesty's Government have adopted the policy of encircling Germany. What President Roosevelt proposed, and what I understand Herr Hitler to have offered, is the exchange of assurances of non-aggression, rather than a guarantee on a reciprocal basis such as that recently given by His Majesty's Government to the Polish Government. His Majesty's Government would certainly be ready to consider proposals for an exchange of reciprocal assurances with the German Government.

Mr. Henderson

In view of the importance of the statement which the Prime Minister has just made, will the Government take proper steps to ensure that it is brought to the notice of the German public?

Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

Is it not the case that reciprocal assurances were exchanged at Munich and have since been found to be worthless?

Mr. Lipson

Will the right hon. Gentleman see whether the statement which has just been made by him can be included in the broadcast in German?

Mr. Noel-Baker

Will the Government make it plain that the arrangements they are now making are guarantees against aggression and may be participated in by any Government which is prepared in good faith to renounce aggression?

The Prime Minister

Certainly they are guarantees against aggression solely; and as regards any extension, I have no doubt that the Government will be glad to consider any proposals for their extension.

13. Mr. Riley

asked the Prime Minister whether he has been officially informed of the negotiations taking place between the Governments of Rumania and Bulgaria regarding the Bulgarian minority in the Dobrudja; and whether he has any information as to the prospects of an amicable settlement of this question?

The Prime Minister

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.

Mr. Riley

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether it is not advisable in the interests of collective security to see whether our good offices can be used to bring about a settlement of the difficulties?

The Prime Minister

We should like to see any differences settled, but whether we ourselves should offer our good offices is a matter which would have to be considered.

14. Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any information to give the House as to the recent conversations between His Majesty's Government and the Rumanian Foreign Minister?

The Prime Minister

His Majesty's Government were very happy to receive the Rumanian Foreign Minister in London between the 23rd and 26th April. As was stated in the official communiqué issued after the conclusion of our conversations, the visit afforded a welcome oportunity for an exchange of views between M. Gafencu, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and myself. The meetings were characterised by the utmost frankness and cordiality on both sides, and served to emphasise the general community of outlook existing between the two Governments concerning current problems.

16. Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

asked the Prime Minister whether in view of the fact that Herr Hitler has continually complained of the Treaty of Versailles, he will draw his attention to the losses of territory suffered by Russia and Rumania by the treaties of Brest-Litovsk and Bucharest?

Mr. Butler

I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by such action, as the German Government must be well aware of the terms of those Treaties.

Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

In view of the fact that the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk took away a quarter of the territory of Russia and 62,000,000 of her inhabitants, while the Treaty of Bucharest placed the whole of the economic resources of Rumania at the disposal of Germany, are not many of the complaints made by Herr Hitler about the Treaty of Versailles misleading, if not to say hypocritical?

Mr. Butler

Certainly I think that the German Government must be very well aware of the terms of the Treaties in question.