§ 5. Mr. Manderasked the Prime Minister whether he will publish the terms of the letters exchanged between the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Dr. Edward Benes, former President of the Czecho-Slovak Republic, concerning the formation of the Czecho-Slovak National Committee in this country; and to what extent action has been, or is being, taken as a result?
§ The Prime MinisterI am circulating the text of these letters in the OFFICIAL REPORT. As regards the second part of the Question, the National Committee is already in touch with the competent Departments of His Majesty's Government.
§ Following is the text of the letters.
§ Putney, S.W.15,
§ align="right"20th December, 1939.
§ MY DEAR LORD HALIFAX,
§ I have been charged to notify you that the Czecho-Slovak National Committee has been formed.
§ 2. The members of this committee, who represent the various elements of the Czecho-Slovak nation, are:
- M. E. Benes.
- General S. Ingr.
- M. S. Osusky.
- M. E. Outrata.
- M. H. Ripka.
- M. J. Slávik.
- Mgr. J. Srámek.
- General R. Viest.
§ 3. This committee will be qualified to represent the Czecho-Slovak peoples, and, in particular, in agreement with His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, to make such arrangements as may be necessary in the territories under the jurisdiction of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom in connection with the reconstitution of the Czecho-Slovak army in France.
§ 4. In informing you of the constitution of the committee, I beg to request that the competent British authorities will permit the committee to proceed with the necessary arrangements in the territories in question, and will afford it all requisite support.
§ Believe me, etc,
§ DR. E. BENES.
§ Foreign Office,
§ 20th December, 1939.
§ MY DEAR DR. BENES,
§ In your letter of the 20th December, 1939, you were sc good as to notify me of the formation of the Czecho-Slovak National Committee.
§ I have the honour to inform you that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom take note of your communication, and recognise that the committee is qualified to represent the Czecho-Slovak peoples, and, in particular, in agreement with His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, to make such arrangements as may he necessary in the territories under the jurisdiction of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom in connection with the reconstitution of the Czecho-Slovak army in France.
§ The competent departments of His Majesty's Government will be instructed to concert with the committee in respect of the arrangements which may be necessary for this purpose in the territories in question, and to afford it all requisite support.
§ Yours sincerely,
§ HALIFAX.