§ 11. Mr. Cocksasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has considered the declaration of the Foreign Minister of France that there is a mutual desire for an alliance between France and Britain; and what steps are being taken to conclude such an alliance.
§ Mr. BevinAs I informed the hon. and gallant Member for Waterloo (Captain Bullock) on 3rd April, His Majesty's Government have always desired to make an alliance with the French Government, of the same kind as our Treaty of Mutual Assistance with the Soviet Union. I further said that the, Government have recently given renewed consideration to the matter. I have at present nothing to add to that statement.
§ Mr. CocksDo I gather that the Foreign Secretary agrees that a further agreement between Britain and France, complementary to the agreement which both countries have with Russia, is an essential basis for the peace of Europe, and will he do everything to further that?
§ Mr. BevinI have always been in favour of that agreement, but it must be an alliance based on friendship between the two countries and not made conditional on anything else.
§ Mr. EdelmanWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that whatever the other differences, all French political parties enthusiastically want an Anglo-French alliance?
§ Mr. BevinYes, but they also want conditions with regard to other things before it can be discussed, to which I cannot agree.