§ 37. Captain GARRO-JONESasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether any of the Dominions have yet been invited to express their views regarding adhesion to the Locarno Treaty; and, if not, whether they will be invited to do so before the British ratification is deposited at Geneva?
§ Mr. AMERYI cannot add anything to the Prime Minister's reply to the hon. and gallant Member's question on the same subject on 4th March, except to say that the whole matter is one which it is hoped will be fully discussed at the forthcoming Imperial Conference.
§ Mr. J. H. THOMASWill the right hon. Gentleman promise to lay Papers?
§ Mr. AMERYNo; these are various communications leading up to a decision of policy, and are like communications within the Cabinet, not always of a character which make it desirable to publish them.
§ Mr. RAMSAY MacDONALDAre we not then to have the privilege of knowing what our Dominions think? Are not these of the nature of despatches which, in the end, ought to be made public.
§ Mr. AMERYNo; I am not sure on that point. It all depends upon the consent of the Dominions themselves. In the formation of policy a great many communications pass which are not always desired by the Governments concerned to be published.
§ Mr. THOMASWill the right hon. Gentleman ascertain the views of the Dominions as to their publication, and, if they acquiesce, will he then agree to lay Papers?
§ Mr. AMERYI will consider that, but I shall have to consult my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESSeeing it is now some months since the Locarno Treaty was signed, may I ask whether or not the Dominions have been invited to express their adhesion to its terms?
§ Mr. AMERYI thought I had made that clear in my reply. This is one of the subjects which we proposed to discuss fully at the forthcoming Imperial Conference.