§ Mr. PIRIEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the movement in the United States of America in favour of a league of peace, and of the action proposed to be taken in the House of Representatives at Washington in the matter, more especially to the proposal of calling an International Conference for the purpose of considering the possibility of limiting the armaments of the nations of the world by international agreement; whether the Government ban see their way to assist the realisation of such a project; and if, in view of the existing feeling in the United States, he would consider the present moment an opportune one for reintroducing, for ratification 1441 between the Governments of the English-speaking Powers, an arbitration treaty on the lines of the one which was before the United States Senate a few years ago?
§ Sir E. GREYHis Majesty's Ambassador has reported to me certain resolutions of the Annual Arbitration Conference, relating generally to the preservation of peace and the limitation of armaments, which, it is understood, are now being considered in the House of Representatives. I need not say that His Majesty's Government will follow these discussions with sympathetic interest, but until they know what effect is given to them by the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the United States Government, it would be premature to take any steps in the matter. His Majesty's Government have already signed an Arbitration Convention with the United States Government which was laid before Parliament in August, 1908.