37. Mr. G. MURRAYasked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the illness of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and his consequent inability to attend the Genoa Conference, any steps have been taken to till his place at that Conference by someone versed in foreign affairs; and whether the Foreign Office is officially represented there; and, if so, by whom?
§ 38. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Lord Privy Seal who is the representative of the Foreign Office at the International Conference at Genoa?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINWhile I regret that, for the reason mentioned, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has so far not been able to attend the Conference, I cannot, accept the implication contained in the first part of Question No. 37, if only because the British Delegation includes the Prime Minister. The British Delegation also includes the Legal Adviser of the Foreign Office and three other expert members of that Department.
§ Sir W. DAVISONDoes not the right hon. Gentleman see that if foreign affairs wore left to the Foreign Office we should not have got into the tangle which we are now in?
§ Sir BURTON CHADWICKIs the Lord Chancellor a member of the British Delegation?
§ Captain LOSEBYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in spite of certain distorted reports in the Press, the general feeling of the country is one of intense pride and gratification at—[Interruption.]
§ 41. Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEasked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in view of the fact that the questions of boundaries and reparations were expressly excluded from the discussions at the Genoa Conference, a day can be given 963 for a Debate upon the further proposal at Genoa to call a meeting of the signatories to the Versailles Treaty for the purpose of discussing these vital issues at Genoa?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI do not think that my hon. and gallant Friend has quite correctly interpreted the purpose of the proposed meeting of the signatories of the Treaty of Versailles; but in any case I cannot allocate a day for such a discussion at present.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEWill the right hon. Gentleman convey to the Prime Minister that the majority of the opinion in this House and in the country is still in favour of a strong pact with France and insisting upon Germany carrying out her obligations?