§ Sir J. SIMON(By Private Notice) asked the Prime. Minister whether it is the fact that at the meeting of the Council of the League of Nations at Geneva last week, which was attended by the Minister of Education as British representative, a proposal was brought forward to issue a decree by the authority of the League of Nations as the body responsible under the Treaty of Versailles for administration of the Saar, which made it an offence punishable by fine or imprisonment to criticise publicly, by speech or writing, the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles or the action of the League of Nations; what attitude the British representative took in dealing with this proposal, and whether it is the fact that this proposal has been adopted by the Council of the League without any dissentient vote?
§ Mr. BALDWINI would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer given yesterday by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the hon. Member for Accrington (Mr. C. Buxton); but, since receiving notice of the question, I have had the opportunity of consulting my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education. I understand that the first and third parts of the question are substantially accurate. With regard to the second part of the question, my right hon. Friend will be prepared, in accordance with precedent, to make a statement to the House in regard to the proceedings of the Council in which he took part.
§ Sir J. SIMONWhen will that be?
§ Mr. BALDWINI have looked up what has been done before, and I find that a statement has been made by the late President of the Board of Education in answer to a Private Notice question; but then, of course, that precludes discussion. If I might drop a suggestion to my right hon. and learned Friend, it is that it is, I understand, open to him and his Friends to arrange, through the usual channels, the Supply Vote to be taken next week My right hon. Friend could then make a statement that may be the subject of discussion on the Foreign and Colonial Services Votes (Class V). That could be taken one day next week.