§ 25. Lieut-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister the names of the British delegates to the Genoa Conference and to the Conference in Paris on the Turkish Question and the Treaty of Sevres; and whether the date of 10th April remains the opening day of the Genoa Conference?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe British delegates to the Genoa Conference have not yet been finally settled, but they will include the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. The answer to the second part of the question is the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. The answer to the third part is in the affirmative.
32. Mr. L. MALONEasked the Prime Minister which countries have been invited to send experts to consider economies and finance matters preliminary to the Genoa Conference; whether this Conference is to be held in London on Monday, 20th March; what are the names of the British experts; and who are the representatives of finance, industry, and labour?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe countries invited to send experts to the meeting in London, which is expected to begin on 20th March, are France, Italy, Belgium, and Japan. The British experts are Sir Sydney Chapman (Board of Trade), Mr. J. D. Gregory (Foreign Office), and Mr. R. G. Hawtrey (Treasury). The British Committee has been in continuous consultation with the various interests concerned.
§ 39. Mr. CLYNESasked the Prime Minister whether his personal attention has been drawn to the request of the Parliamentary Committee of the Cooperative Congress that representatives of the co-operative movement should be invited to attend the Genoa Conference in an advisory capacity; whether he is aware that the body in question is not asking for direct representation at the Conference but merely that persons connected with the co-operative movement in this country and fully conversant with the international activities of the cooperative societies should be present to give any advice desired on points which may arise; and whether, in view of the fact that representatives of co-operative societies in other countries will be present at Genoa, and that during the War tribute was paid to the valuable assistance rendered by the British co-operative societies, he will reconsider this matter and grant the request made by a movement which represents a very large section of the community, and which, by reason of its international connections, is in a position to render assistance in developing international trade?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Prime Minister, while fully recognising the achievements of the co-operative movement, as at present advised, doubts the necessity of arranging for representatives of the movement to be in Genoa during the Conference. He is not yet aware of the arrangements being made by other countries generally, but it is obviously necessary to keep within reasonable limits the number of persons who should be asked to be available for immediate consultation, and it would clearly be impossible to provide for the presence of every organisation directly or indirectly concerned in the matters which will be under discussion.