HC Deb 24 July 1924 vol 176 cc1510-1
50 Mr. J. HARRIS

asked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that the published extracts of the despatch to the Council of the League of Nations rejecting the draft treaty contains no indication of the main lines of a disarmament policy and machinery for such disarmament which would be approved by His Majesty's Government, he proposes to take an opportunity of disclosing to Parliament the broad lines of the disarmament he proposes to advocate in Geneva in September?

53. Commander BELLAIRS

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the Autumn Recess, whether he can make a statement now, or before the House adjourns, as to the proposed disarmament negotiations, and what arrangement he aims at such as will make a fully-equipped base for capital ships unnecessary at Singapore?

54. Mr. N. MACLEAN

asked the Prime Minister if his letter of 5th July to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations, rejecting the draft treaty of mutual assistance, was accompanied by any alternative proposals of a definite character?

Mr. CLYNES

Paragraph 15 of the letter of 5th July to the Secretary-General of the League, which has been laid before the House, contains all that can at present be said on the subject.

Mr. MACLEAN

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my question I Can he say whether any definite alternative proposals were put forward by the Prime Minister in that letter?

Mr. J. HARRIS

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Article 15 of the Despatch only deals with generalities and does not touch the question of the main lines of policy, and can he say whether His Majesty s Government are prepared or not prepared to agree to the principle of mutual assistance as the price for the reduction of armaments?

Mr. CLYNES

I can only express the hope that my two hon. Friends will find sufficient answer in perusing the correspondence to which I have referred.

Mr. HARRIS

I have perused it most carefully.

Mr. MACLEAN

I have read the correspondence that has been published, and I am asking the Lord Privy Seal whether the Prime Minister has submitted, in addition to that correspondence, any definite alternative proposals?

Mr. CLYNES

My answer has stated that I can add nothing to what is contained in the correspondence.

Commander BELLAIRS

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware, in regard to my question, that it was stated that certain proposals for disarmament would be prejudiced by the Singapore project? When are we to know what those proposals are?

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