§ LORD SNELLMy Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government a question of which I have given them private notice—namely, whether they have any statement to make on the recent visit to Paris by the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (VISCOUNT HALIFAX)My Lords, my right honourable friend the Prime Minister and myself were most happy to avail ourselves of the invitation of the French Government to visit Paris from the 23rd to 25th November. We were much impressed by the warm welcome extended to us by the French Government and by the people of Paris, which gave a further proof of the cordiality and understanding existing between the French nation and this country. The visit gave us an opportunity, which we much appreciated, of resuming personal contact with the French Ministers and of discussing with them questions of common concern to our two countries, including matters of defence as well as of diplomatic action. It is perhaps unnecessary for me to say that we found ourselves in complete agreement on the general policy to be pursued by our two countries, which in both cases finds its main objective in the preservation and consolidation of peace. Your Lordships will not expect me to give a more detailed account of the conversations, the purpose of which was not to reach decisions but to exchange views, and in the course of which no fresh commitments were entered into by His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.