§ Mr. BALDWIN(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether he has any information to give to the House on the subject of his recent conversation with the French President of the Council?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe purpose of the interview between the French Prime Minister and myself was to discuss the technical arrangements that have to be made in order to put the Experts' Report into operation and to survey the various matters in which co-operation between France and ourselves seems to be desirable in order to promote security and peace in Europe.
42 This must not he taken to mean that the intention is to make any exclusive arrangements between any two Powers. The discussions will be reported to the Prime Ministers of Belgium and Italy, to whom we are anxious that no decisions should be presented as having been already taken. The talk was preliminary to the Inter-Allied Conference which is to meet in London, probably on the 16th of next month. The communiqué issued to the Press covers the ground of the conversations.
Mr. LLOYD GEORGEArising out of that answer, I should like to ask the Prime Minister whether America will be represented at that Conference, and whether Germany is to be invited to attend? I should also like to ask him whether the subject-matter will be confined to the Dawes Report, or whether there will be any discussion of Inter-Allied Debts and on the question of security?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is highly desirable that America should be represented at the Inter-Allied Conference in July. We are not at the moment in communication, but a communication to that effect will be made to the American Government at once. With reference to the representation of Germany, that was discussed, but quite obviously it is first essential that there should be an agreement between the Allies as to what they are prepared to do to put the Report into effect. It is felt that certain obligations imposed upon Germany by the Experts' Report are somewhat outside the obligations imposed upon her by the Treaty of Versailles, and the question remains for consultation with Belgium and Italy, in pursuance of the consultation which we have had this week-end, as to how best to bring Germany in to make her a willing partner in sharing these obligations. The exact form is not settled, but it is under consideration. The business at the Inter-Allied Conference will be the Dawes Report. The subject-matter will be the Dawes Report. As soon as the Dawes Report is put into operation, as soon as all the machinery is arranged for putting the Dawes Report into operation, and it is actually in operation, obviously we shall go on to discuss and, I hope, to settle the other outstanding matters between France and ourselves, including 43 Inter-Allied Debts; but I hope the House will be perfectly clear about this, as I can assure it I am perfectly clear myself—there is going to be no mixing up of inter-Allied Debt questions with the putting of the Dawes Report into operation.
§ Mr. PRINGLECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the question of the proportions in which the Allies share in payments from Germany will be re opened?
§ The PRIME MINISTERCertainly not.
§ Mr. R. McNEILLIn view of the recent correspondence with Canada over the Lausanne Conference, does the right hon. Gentleman propose to ask representatives of the Dominions to take part in this Conference?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs a matter of fact we are now in communication with the Dominions. I think I had better just give this assurance, that, without committing myself to details as to how it is to be done, the Dominions will be completely consulted, so that they may feel that they are in fact partners with us in everything that we do. The point that I should like to make clear is that in settling the question of putting the Dawes Report into operation we shall certainly undertake no responsibilities by which either this country or the Dominions will be mulcted in seeing carried out.
Mr. LLOYD GEORGEDo I understand that Germany will not be at the first Conference—that Germany will be invited subsequently to another Conference, either here or elsewhere?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMay I ask the House just to leave the matter? I have stated where we are; that we have talked it over and that we have come to no conclusion; and it is quite obvious that there are at least three ways of dealing with this matter. But it will be dealt with, and Germany will be asked to come in so as to make good the final arrangement for putting the Dawes Report into operation.