R. Eden (Warwick and Leamington, U.), who on rising was received with cheers, said I rise to ask the leave of the House to make a personal explanation. This is for me, both on personal and political grounds, a most painful occasion (hear, hear). No man would willingly sever the links which bind him with colleagues and friends, still less when, as in my case, I am only too conscious to how great an extent those colleagues have encouraged and sustained me during the two years that I have held the responsible office from which I have just resigned.
But there are occasions when strong political convictions must override all other considerations (cheers), Of such occasions only the individual himself can be the judge. No man can be the keeper of another man's conscience. So I stand before the House to-day to give the House in a few brief sentences an account of my reasons for having resigned the office of P ign Secretary.
First, let me make plain" the ultimate aim of us all. The objective of the foreign policy of this country is and must always be the maintenance of peace (hear, hear). If, however, peace is to be enduring it must rest on foundations of frank reciprocity and mutual respect (cheers). If we accept this basis for our foreign policy, it follows that we must be ready to negotiate with all countries, whatever their form of government, in order to promote international understanding (hear. hear). But we mist also be watchful that in our conception of such negotiations and in the method by which we seek to further them, we are in fact strengthening, not undermining, the foundations upon which international confidence rests. a really solid basis of good will, which is essential to success (cheers).
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.