HC Deb 10 April 1940 vol 359 c548
14. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government have now received information of the contents of the memorandum setting out the essentials of the foreign policy of the United States, which was handed by Mr. Welles, President Roosevelt's envoy, to the French Prime Minister; and whether His Majesty's Government are in agreement with the views of the United States Government as expressed therein?

Mr. Butler

I presume that the hon. and learned Member refers to the memorandum on the foreign economic policy of the United States, communicated on 9th March by Mr. Sumner Welles to the French Minister of Finance, who was at that time M. Paul Reynaud. His Majesty's Government were not given any similar document by Mr. Welles, but the French Government have communicated to them the text of their memorandum. The French Government issued an official communiquéthe following day, stating that M. Paul Reynaud, after consulting the President of the Council, had conveyed to Mr. Sumner Welles the French Government's complete agreement to the principles set forth in the memorandum. His Majesty's Government share these views.