§ Mr. R. Morganasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he can make any statement with regard to the international situation in the Southern Pacific?
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§ Mr. EdenHis Majesty's Government are aware of persistent reports to the effect that the Japanese Government intend to take action to obtain naval and air bases in southern Indo-China. The reports are the more significant since they coincide with a Japanese Press campaign of innuendo against Great Britain in respect of both Indo-China and Thailand. I welcome this opportunity therefore to state that the alleged designs of Great Britain in both these countries are entirely non-existent. As regards Indo-China our relations have been much restricted since the collapse of France, though a limited amount of trade continues. As regards Thailand, our policy is governed by our treaty of non-aggression with that country. That treaty is not designed to obtain exclusive advantages and it is not directed against any third party except in so far as such third party may attempt to interfere with those excellent neighbourly relations, political, economic and other, which have always existed between Great Britain and Thailand.