DISARMAMENT. (Hansard, 4 May 1932)

§ 1. Captain NORTH
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the estimated cost to the League of Nations of the present Disarmament Conference; what expenditure, in addition to this, is estimated to be incurred by the British Government; and how this amount compares with the additional expenditure estimated to be incurred by the Governments of other nations participating therein?

§ Captain AUSTIN HUDSON (Lord of the Treasury)
I have been asked to reply in the absence of my right hon. Friend. The estimated expenditure of the League 1090 of Nations in respect of the Disarmament Conference amounts to 3,500,000 Swiss francs, and the estimated cost of the British Delegation to the Conference is £40,000. I have no information as to the estimated expenditure by the Governments of other nations taking part in the Conference.

§ Colonel GRETTON
Is that an estimate of the expenditure up to date, or does it include estimates of future expenditure?

§ Captain HUDSON
Speaking without expert knowledge on the subject, I think it is up to date.

§ 47. Mr. BERNAYS
asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an early opportunity for a general Debate on Disarmament?

§ The LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (Mr. Baldwin)
As the hon. Gentleman is aware, this matter could be raised on a Supply day or on the Motion for the Whitsuntide Adjournment, but I am afraid that a special opportunity cannot be given.

§ Mr. BERNAYS
In view of the new principle of quantitative disarmament now emerging at Geneva, will the right hon. Gentleman do his best to give the House an opportunity to debate it?

§ Mr. BALDWIN
There is frequent opportunity on Supply days. All I said was that the Government could not undertake to give up an ordinary business day for the purpose.

§ Mr. LANSBURY
May I ask the Lord President of the Council a further question on this subject? Among Members of the House there is a very keen desire to get a statement from the right hon. Gentleman as to the course of the proceedings at Geneva in reference to disarmament. Will it be possible, immediately after the House re-assembles, for the Foreign Secretary to be present on a Supply day in order that he may make such a statement and the House may discuss it?

§ Mr. BALDWIN
The right hon. Gentleman, no doubt, heard the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for North Bristol (Mr. Bernays). Of course the 1091 Foreign Secretary is anxious to take part in such a Debate if arrangements can be made which suits his convenience. I can only repeat the suggestion which I made at an earlier stage that we shall be only too pleased to put down a Supply day for a discussion of this subject if that can be arranged, or it might be possible to raise the question on the Motion for the Whitsuntide Adjournment. We are not in a position at present to sacrifice special time for that purpose.

§ Mr. LANSBURY
The reason I put my question was that I wanted the Foreign Secretary to understand that we did not ask for the Foreign Office Vote to be put down, because we understood that the Foreign Secretary would be out of the country, but if the right hon. Gentleman is going to be back we shall be glad on the first available Supply day to get a statement from him and have a discussion.

§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir John Simon):
I am very much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman, and I will do my utmost to be available. If the right hon. Gentleman will be good enough to consult the Government in the ordinary way through the usual channels, I think an early day can certainly be arranged.