§ 38. Lieut-Colonel HENEAGEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any statement to make as to the reasons for the Russian Soviet Government's refusal to join in a general conference on disarmament?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe conference on disarmament, has not yet been summoned, and I presume the hon. and gallant Member refers to the Preparatory Committee on Disarmament at Geneva. The reason given by the Soviet Government for not accepting the invitation of the League to take part in the work of this committee was the difference which had arisen between the Soviet Government and the Government of the Swiss Confederation.
§ Mr. RENNIE SMITHDoes the right hon. Gentleman propose to make any further effort to induce them to join in further negotiations?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINIf I thought that any action I might take was likely to cause the Soviet Government to reconsider their decision, I should be glad to make representations to them, but I do not think they would be likely to listen to my counsels on that point, and the terms of their reply to the League's invitation were not encouraging.
§ Mr. SMITHIn view of the objections taken by Russia to a. Conference in Geneva, will not the right hon. Gentleman take steps to suggest the calling of this Conference in another place?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINNo, I cannot agree to that. The seat of the League is at Geneva, and if, whenever any Government has cause of disagreement with the Government of the Swiss Confederation, the meetings of the League are, at the behest of that Government, to be held elsewhere, I do not suppose that the Swiss Confederation or any other nation would be able to give the League a home, for the League would become an instrument in the diplomacy of every foreign Power which might happen to have a controversy with the Government of the country in which it was sitting.
Captain BENNIn view of the fact that the complaint of the Russian Government is that one of their emissaries was murdered in Switzerland, will not the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability, in the interests of the Disarmament Conference, of suggesting another venue, which has often been done in the case of other Commissions?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINNo. I do not know whether the hon. and gallant Gentleman has in mind the correspondence which passed between the League of Nations and the Soviet Government, and with the Swiss Government, in which they guaranteed to the Soviet. Government, as to all Governments which came there, the measure of protection which they accord to any one. It is quite impossible, I think, that I should suggest to the League that, because a particular Government has a dispute with the Swiss Government, therefore we should move to another place.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is becoming a Debate.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEOn a point of Order. May I not ask a supplementary question, Mr. Speaker, in view of the fact that it was my question which was on the Paper, and that I have risen several times to ask a supplementary question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERLieut - Colonel Heneage.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEI want to ask if the right hon. Gentleman has any reason to suppose that the Russian Government have any intention whatsoever of disarming.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe Minister cannot answer for other Governments.