HC Deb 21 June 1927 vol 207 cc1676-7
Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY (by Private Notice)

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give any information as to the conversations which the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs held at Geneva recently?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

As announced in the Press, two conversations were held in which representatives of Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Belgium and Germany took part. In the course of these conversations a free exchange of views took place on all matters of common interest, and explanations were offered of the policies of the different countries represented. No new engagements were undertaken or even sought by any of the parties, but all expressed their determination to continue to execute the policy of Locarno, and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reports that he is confident that one result of the conversations will be to facilitate the early execution on the one side as on the other of those measures which still remain to be taken to give complete effect to the previous agreements of the Powers, such, for instance, as the resolution of the Ambassadors' Conference relating to troops in the Rhineland, and the various points still outstanding in regard to disarmament.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

When is the Foreign Secretary expected back?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

My right hon. Friend is having a short and, I think, very well-deserved rest. He hopes to be back in a few days' time.

Mr. TAYLOR

Was any proposal made by any of the Locarno Pact Powers or by Japan for a joint conference with Russia?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

As I have said, my right hon. Friend will be back in a very few days, and I think it would be much better that questions in regard to the conversations should be addressed to him personally.