§ Mr. PONSONBY (by Private Notice)asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give this House, before it rises, any information with regard to the proceedings of the Preparatory Commission on Disarmament recently convened by the League of Nations at Geneva?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe Council of the League of Nations, which has been considering at Geneva the reduction of armaments, has invited the following member States: Bulgaria, Finland, Netherlands, Jugo-Slavia, Poland, Rou-mania; and the following non-member States: Germany, Russia and the United States of America, to participate in the work of the Preparatory Commission for the Conference on Disarmament, which is to meet at Geneva on the 15th February. The above invitations were accompanied by a programme based on proposals put forward by His Majesty's Government and the French Government, and certain suggestions of the Spanish Government. The Preparatory Commission is to inquire into the basis of a Conference on Disarmament. It is not to lay down an actual scheme of disarmament, which will be the duty of the Conference, but rather 2167 to investigate the principle on which such a conference can be held.
§ Mr. PONSONBYHas any date been fixed for a further sitting of the Commission?
§ Mr. THURTLECould the hon. Gentleman say what is the nature of the proposals submitted by His Majesty's Government and the French Government?
§ Mr. J. HUDSONCan the hon. Gentleman say when a scheme with regard to disarmament will be submitted for the. consideration of the Commission?