§ 16. Mr. THURTLEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether at the recent preliminary Disarmament Conference any agreement was reached as to, a system of League supervision of all armaments?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINMy Noble Friend, Lord Cecil, who represented His Majesty's Government at this Committee has in preparation a despatch reviewing the proceedings and results of the Committee up to date for the information of His Majesty's Government. I propose to lay this despatch as a Command Paper as soon as my Noble Friend can complete it. I regret to say hard work has created the necessity for a little rest. I understand he will be back at work next week and I hope there will not be much delay. The House will thus obtain the fullest and most authoritative commentary on the work of the Committee, and I trust that the hon. Member and the House will not insist on partial commentaries before this full Report is available.
§ 17. Mr. THURTLEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the settlement of the differences between the Swiss and Russian Governments, which had been a bar to Russia's participation in Disarmament Conferences, His Majesty's Government will now propose to the League that an invitation shall be extended to Russia to participate in any further conferences on disarmament?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe date of a general Disarmament Conference has not yet been fixed. If the hon. Member is referring to the Preparatory Committee on Disarmament, I would remind him that on two occasions already an invitation to be represented on that body has been issued by the Council of the League to the Soviet Government. It is to be hoped that, in view of the settlement of its dispute with the Swiss Federal Government, the Soviet Government will now see its way to accept the Council's invitation, but I do not think that any initiative on my part at the present time is likely to bring about that result.