§ Mr. HARCOURT JOHNSTONEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the French and Italian Governments were consulted as to the terms of the British note to Germany of 18th March; and whether the French and Italian Governments were informed of the final terms of the note in time for them to make representations as to its wording and effect?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe French and Italian Governments were informed of the terms of the British Note addressed to Germany on 18th March before its delivery. It must be remembered that the note dealt with the visit already arranged to take place in a few days of British Ministers to Berlin, and it was necessary to clear up immediately the position as between His Majesty's Government and the German Government in view of the imminence of that visit. I need hardly say that I was in close and constant touch with both the French and Italian Governments during this period. Indeed the House will recollect that in order to ensure that the contact should be as close as possible, the Lord Privy Seal visited Paris on his way to Berlin to have a personal discussion with the French Foreign Minister, and the Italian Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.