§ 53. Captain GARRO-JONESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can indicate an approximate date on which he will be in possession of the views of the Dominions on the American proposal for the outlawry of war and, therefore, in a position to reply to the United States Government?
§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Godfrey Locker-Lampson)Consultations are actively taking place with His Majesty's Governments in the Dominions, and a reply will be returned to the United States proposals as soon as these have been concluded, which I hope will be at an early date.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESAre the communications with the Dominions being conducted by cable or by letter?
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThey are being conducted by cable.
§ 54. Captain GARRO-JONESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will specify those prior obligations of Great Britain which qualify her liberty to accept a proposal for the complete outlawry of international war?
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe British obligations which must be taken into consideration in this connection are those assumed under the Covenant of the League of Nations and the Treaty of Locarno. There are also certain treaties which fall within the framework of the Covenant where His Majesty's Government have undertaken to fulfil any recommendations made by the Council of the League of Nations for the protection of territory which is attacked.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESBy the time all the prior obligations of every nation are taken into account, would it not be simpler to state which causes of war would come under outlawry than to state a long lost of exceptions?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODAre these to remain for all time prior obligations, or will they be conjoint obligations?
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI think that perhaps the House had better wait until they see the actual terms of the reply which we are sending to the United States Government.