§ 29. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Prime Minister whether the subjects which were originally arranged to be discussed at Genoa were in any way circumscribed or limited by subsequent agreements made recently with M. Poincaré; and whether any question of the revision of the financial Clauses of the Versailles Treaty or the curtailment of the land forces of the nations represented at the Conference are ruled out from discussion or resolution at the Genoa Conference?
§ 32. Viscount WOLMERasked the Prime Minister the specific objects for which he is going to the Genoa Conference?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINPerhaps the hon. and gallant Member and my Noble Friend will await the statement which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister proposes to make on the 3rd April.
§ 31. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether he intends to explain the policy to be put forward at Genoa on behalf of His Majesty's Government by the British representatives when he asks for the confidence of this House on 3rd April next; and whether an opportunity will be given to debate that policy before a vote is taken?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe answer to both parts of the hon. and gallant Member's question is in the affirmative.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYCan the right hon. Gentleman now state whether the Vote on 3rd April will be on that policy, or will be simply one of confidence in the Government's being able to carry it out?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI think I have already said, and, if not, I say it at once, that we will give due notice of the Resolution we propose to move, and the hon. and gallant Member will be able to see its exact terms when it appears on the Paper.
§ Sir DONALD MACLEANWhen will it be put on the Paper? The Debate being on Monday week, will it be put on the Paper on the Thursday?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINOh, yes, I hope to give notice of that kind, putting it on the Paper on the Thursday.
§ 33. Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Lord Privy Seal what are the specific economic questions which it is proposed should be discussed by the forthcoming Conference at Genoa?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAs my hon. Friend is aware, the various countries concerned are considering what proposals to put forward. I am not in a position to state what their decisions may be.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSCould the right hon. Gentleman state at an early period the proposals of an economic character which His Majesty's Government intend to put forward?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe proper time for explaining the policy of His Majesty's Government will be in the Debate on 3rd April.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSWhile agreeing with that, might I suggest that it would be rather hard lines to ask the faithful Commons to debate a matter about which they only hear at the moment before they are called upon to debate it? In a matter of this importance, might we not have some outline of the proposals a little in advance of the Debate?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe object of the Debate is to give the opportunity of hearing the policy of the Government and expressing an opinion upon it. I do not notice that my hon. Friend, or hon. Members generally, ever consider that 655 notice is required before Ministers are expected to give replies upon the most abstruse questions.
§ 34. Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Lord Privy Seal what are the terms of the Vote of confidence which it is proposed to move on 3rd April?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAs I have already said, in answer to a supplementary question, I will take care that proper notice is given of the terms of Motion, but I cannot state them at present.