§ 2. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have prepared a scheme for the limitation of naval armaments by agreement through the League of Nations for discussion at the forthcoming Preparatory Commission; whether such a scheme is in existence; and whether it will be published at the commencement of the sittings of the Preparatory Commission in the same way as the British scheme 2285 for disarmament was published at the beginning of the recent Tripartite Naval Conference at Geneva?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONIf the hon. and gallant Gentleman will refer to the answer which I gave him on the 7th instant, he will see that I stated that the British representative on the Preparatory Commission has discretion to bring forward our proposals whenever he thinks the occasion propitious, and that the occasion will probably be the next meeting of the Preparatory Commission.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYI quite understood that answer, but my question is whether a scheme has actually been prepared for our representative to bring forward at the Preparatory Commission; whether such a scheme is in actual existence?
Mr. LOCKER - LAMPSONI think we must wait until the Preparatory Commission meets, and, when it meets, it will be the duty of the British representative to bring forward any proposals which he may have to make.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYI am not asking for details of the scheme; I am asking whether it is in physical existence? Is there such a scheme?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI imagine there is a scheme, but it is impossible at the moment to say whether it is going to be the exact scheme which a few weeks hence will be presented.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYIt is not for the Under-Secretary to imagine. Does he know whether such a scheme exists?