§ 35. Mr. LUNNasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Swiss Government was consulted and. gave its consent before Geneva was named in the Covenant as the seat of the League of Nations; whether arrangements have-been made for the offices of the secretariat at Geneva; how much money, if any, has been expended in this way or in other preliminary expenses of the secretariat; whether funds are provided for this purpose in tile Estimates adopted by this House, and, if so, to what amount; and how much is expected to be the British expenditure in a normal year on the secretariat of the League of Nations?
Mr. HARMSWORTHAs regards the first part of the question, the Swiss Minister in Part informed the President of the Peace Conference in an official note on 22nd March that the Swiss Government would warmly welcome the establishment of the League on Swiss; territory.
351 The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative, so that that part relating to what money has been expended in this manner does not arise.
In accordance with a Resolution of the Organisation Committee of the League of Nations (a body appointed by a Plenary Session of the Peace Conference), the Acting Secretary-General was authorised to incur certain preliminary expenditure in connection with the provisional organisation of the secretariat. I understand that an official statement of expenses will be published in due course.
In the Supplementary Estimates 1919/20, paragraph 10, under "Diplomatic and Consular Services," there is a Vote K/3 League of Nations E24,000.
This is all that it is expected will be asked of His Majesty's Government as their share of the expenses in the period ending 31st March, 1920. No estimate has yet been made regarding the probable expenditure after 1st April, 1920.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWhen will this Vote be put down for discussion?
Mr. HARMSWORTHI do not know. Perhaps the hon. and gallant Gentleman will put that question to the Leader of the House?