§ Mr. RENNIE SMITHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will lay the information contained in the recent German offer of a West European pact before the House?
§ Mr. A. CHAMBERLAINThe German offer is not as yet in a form in which it could properly be laid before the House. The communication originally made to me in strict confidence was of a tentative nature and has since been the subject of further amplification. I expect to deal with the subject in general2300W terms in next week's Debate, but the interchange of views which has so far taken place has not proceeded sufficiently far to enable me to give a precise definition of the shape which the German Government would ultimately propose to give to their suggestions: and too great insistence on particular points at this moment might jeopardise the prospects of negotiations now in their early stages.