§ Colonel GRETTON (by Private Notice)asked the Prime Minister if Lord Esher is the official representative of the British Government at the Conference of the League of Nations; if Lord Esher has authority to make proposals or commitments on behalf of the British Government; and if it is the fact, as stated, that as part of the disarmament policy Lord Esher has proposed that the numbers of the British Army should be fixed at 90,000 men?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Lord Esher is one of the members of the League's Temporary Mixed Commission for the Reduction of Armaments selected from amongst various nations by the Council of the League for their recognised competence in political, social and economic matters. He does not act in any way on behalf of, or receive instructions from, His Majesty's Government. A scheme for the reduction of land armaments has, I believe, been put by the Noble Lord before the Commission as a basis for discussion, but I have no official knowledge of the subject.
§ Lord R. CECILIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that no opinion has been expressed on that scheme at all?
§ The PRIME MINISTERindicated assent.