HC Deb 04 March 1946 vol 420 cc36-7
85. Mr. Clement Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now publish all the secret agreements made between His Majesty's Government and the Governments of the U.S.A. and U S.S.R. at Yalta and. in particular, those of them relating to China.

Mr. Noel-Baker

The hon. and learned Member will have seen the text of the secret agreement respecting the entry of Soviet Russia into the war against Japan, which was published on 11th February as a White Paper. I am not aware that any other secret agreement was concluded at the Crimea Conference.

Mr. Davies

Might I ask the Minister if His Majesty's present Government consider themselves bound by secret agreements affecting an Ally who is not a party to them? Under which of these agreements has property or machinery been removed from China except by the Chinese Government?

Mr. Noel-Baker

As to the first part of that question, His Majesty's Government evidently must regard themselves as bound by what was done before. As regards the second part, perhaps the hon. and learned Member will put down a question.

Mr. Stokes

Is the Minister aware that the late Foreign Secretary assured the House that no secret agreement was entered into, yet now, in every Memorandum circulated in foreign countries about displaced persons, reference is made to secret agreements made at Yalta?

Mr. Eden

As I have been referred to, might I ask the Government — they have just made a statement that there are no secret agreements — if in any way what I have said is wrong, to publish and make clear where I was wrong?

Mr. Noel-Baker

I have just said there was no other secret agreement except that published on 11th February. As to the rest of the right hon. Gentleman's question, of course, if we find any others we will publish them.