§ 22. Mr. H. O'NEILLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can now say which of the Allied States will he represented at the Inter-Allied Conference this month; whether a representative of the United States will attend it; and can he indicate what the agenda for the Conference will be?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Allied States represented at the forthcoming Conference, fixed for the 16th July, will, it is hoped, be the British Empire, France, Italy, Japan, Belgium, Yugo-Slavia, Greece, Portugal and Rumania. The United States Ambassador will also attend, as has already been publicly announced by the American Government. The business of the Conference will be limited to concerting the necessary arrangements for putting the Dawes Report into operation.
§ Mr. O'NEILLCan the right hon. Gentleman state whether the misunderstanding which arose during the last day or two has now been cleared up?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI propose to make a statement at the beginning of the Debate to-day on the subject, and perhaps the House had better wait for that.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREDo we understand that the British Empire will be represented by the right hon. Gentleman himself as a single delegation, or have Dominion representatives been invited?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid I cannot answer until I have a conference with the Dominions, which I hope will take place on Friday.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThis week?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, this week.
§ Captain BERKELEYIs it not desirable that an invitation should be extended to Czechslovakia?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, invitations can be extended only to those nations which are directly interested in reparation treaties.
§ 24. Mr. LUMLEYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether recognition of Russia by the Allies will be a subject for discussion at the Inter-Allied Conference which is shortly to be held?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo.
§ Sir GRATTAN DOYLE(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister what is the present position in regard to the diplomatic misunderstanding between the British and French Governments?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI understood that this question was withdrawn. In any event, I am going to make a statement very shortly.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt was the other question that I called on the hon. Member to put.
§ 52. Brigadier-General SPEARSasked the Prime Minister what is the explanation of the fact that a memorandum giving the British policy as to the matters to be discussed, and the procedure, at the forthcoming Inter-Allied Conference has been sent to the Governments of Italy, Japan, the United States, Belgium and Germany, but not to the French Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo such memorandum was sent or exists. The communication made to the Governments of Belgium, Italy and Japan and the United States was merely a repetition of the British suggestions concerning the task of the forthcoming Conference which had already been put before both the Belgian Minister and M. Herriot at Chequers and fully discussed with them. These suggestions were simultaneously 1754 embodied for purposes of record in a semiofficial communication from the permanent head of the Foreign Office to the permanent head of the French Foreign Office. No communication on the subject has been made either by, or on behalf of, His Majesty's Government to the German Government.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYWill that communication be published?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, and one a little bit more lengthy later.
§ Brigadier-General SPEARSIs it the fact that the second memorandum is going to be sent out to give an explanation of the first?
§ The PRIME MINISTERTo explain the first memorandum? Certainly not. There is no explanation required.