§ 48. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether replies have been received from any of His Majesty's Dominions to the questions sent regarding the invitation of the President of the United States of America to a new naval conference; if so, which Dominions have replied; and what is the nature of the reply or replies received?
§ 49. Captain GARRO-JONESasked the Prime Minister whether his correspondence with the Dominions on the subject of the disarmament proposals of the United States of America is being con- 29 ducted by cable or by letter; and when he expects to be in a position to reply to the United States Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI shall answer this question and No. 49 together.
Perhaps the hon. and gallant Members will be good enough to await the statement which, with the permission of Mr. Speaker, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs proposes to make after Questions.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYNo, Mr. Speaker; I protest against my question, of which proper notice was given, not being replied to now, and I ask for your protection in the matter.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Member can make his protest, but I am afraid I cannot help him further.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I press the right hon. Gentleman to answer the second part of the question—as to which Dominions have actually replied? That is a very simple question.
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes; I can answer that. We have received answers from all the Dominions, except the Irish Free State.
Mr. J. RAMSAY MacDONALD(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has anything to communicate to the House on the attitude of His Majesty's Government to President Coolidge's Message regarding a new Naval Conference.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir. I handed a Note in reply to the American Ambassador towards the close of last week, and arranged, with him that it should be published at this hour. The Note is as follows:
His Majesty's Government in Great Britain received with cordial sympathy the invitation of the Government of the United States of America to take part in a conversation at Geneva on the further limitation of naval armaments.The views of His Majesty's Government upon the special geographical position of the British Empire, the length of inter-Imperial communications, and the necessity for the protection of its food supplies are well known, and, together with the special 30 conditions and requirements of the other countries invited to participate in the conversation, must be taken into account.His Majesty's Government are, nevertheless, prepared to consider to what extent the principles adopted at Washington can be carried further, either as regards the ratio in different classes of ships between the various Powers or in other important ways. They, therefore, accept the invitation of the Government of the United States of America, and will do their best to further the success of the proposed conversation.They would, however, observe that the relationship of such a conversation to the proceedings of the Preparatory Commission at Geneva would require careful adjustment.The terms of that reply have been concurred in by all the Governments of the Empire, excepting the Government of the Irish Free State, which has as yet sent no reply to our inquiry.