HC Deb 06 October 1938 vol 339 cc480-2W
Mr. Jagger

asked the Prime Minister when the terms of the right of option under Article 7 of the Munich Agreement will be made known; how a decision is made in case of disagreement between the German and Czech Commissioners; and whether there is any provision as to compensation in connection with the option?

Mr. Butler

As regards the first part of the question, the details of the option will no doubt be made known as soon as they have been determined by the German-Czechoslovak Commission to be set up under Article 7 of the Munich Agreement.

As regards the second part, any disagreement between the German and Czech Commissioners could be referred to the International Commission under the terms of the supplementary declaration to the Munich Agreement.

As regards the last part, it is open to the German-Czechoslovak Commission to consider the question of compensation under Article 7 of the Munich Agreement.

Mr. Jagger

asked the Prime Minister what is the nature of the British guarantee of the new frontiers of Czechoslovakia; when will it become operative; and whether Russia will be asked to subscribe to it?

Mr. Butler

As regards the first and last parts of the question, my Noble Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, made the following statement in another place on 3rd OctoberThe other matter on which I must speak is the guarantee referred to in the annex to the Munich Agreement and which found a place in the Anglo-French proposals on 19th September. There we said that His Majesty's Government would be prepared as a contribution to the pacification of Europe to join in an international guarantee of the new boundaries of Czechoslovakia against any unprovoked aggression. One of the principal parts of such a guarantee would be the safeguarding of the independence of Czechoslovakia by the substitution of a joint guarantee against unprovoked aggression in place of the existing treaties involving reciprocal obligations of a military character. … There are of course a great many questions connected with this guarantee that will require more careful consideration than it has yet been possible to give them. Such will be whether these forms should be joined up further, what States should be invited to assume those obligations, and the circumstances in which these obligations should be held to arise. These matters and possible others will be matters for an early exchange of views between the several Governments concerned. I have nothing to add to this statement.

As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made on 4th October by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence.

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