§ 28. Mr. WATERSONasked whether the British troops in Ireland, Egypt, and India are equipped with poison gas; and whether this weapon had been used in those countries?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThere are stocks of gas shell in Egypt left over from the War, but not in Ireland and India. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative; a very limited amount, however, was fired away in Palestine.
§ Mr. LAWSONIn view of the protest that the Allied powers made against the use of gas as a method of warfare, are 1082 the Allied powers considering the wisdom of abolishing gas as a recognised method of warfare?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThat is a very important question which ought to be debated by the League of Nations. At the same time, the difficulty of preventing studies in this form of warfare, and the danger that discoveries and preparations may be made make it very necessary that we should be in a position to protect our troops against any warfare with this kind of attack.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNot at this moment, because the League of Nations is still in an embryonic condition; but it is one of those subjects which must engage the attention of a great international body.