§ 48. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister the terms of reference for the Hague Conference; and whether the existing treaties of peace, disarmament, and reparation payments will be debarred from the discussions as in the case of the recent conference at Genoa?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe terms of reference of the Hague Conference are printed as No. 8 of Command Paper No. 1,667, and are limited to the subjects mentioned therein.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYAre we to understand that the question of reparations is to be barred at the Hague as at Genoa? If so, the thing will be a farce.
Mr. L. MALONEWill the Government consider the desirability of appointing a proper secretariat for this conference?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThere could be no more unfounded charge than that which is implied in the hon. Member's question I do not suppose the secretarial work of any conference has ever been done better than at recent conferences, whether at Washington or Genoa.
Mr. MALONEDoes the right hon Gentleman know that I did not cast any aspersion on the British secretariat? I meant a proper international secretariat.
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThere always is an international secretariat, and the cooperation, and may I say the friendship, between them has been of the most cordial kind.