§ 47. Mr. THURTLEasked the Prime. Minister if he is prepared to take the initiative in calling a conference of the signatories to the Locarno Treaty with the object of considering how best these Powers can stop competition in armaments amongst themselves?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONNo, Sir. As. the hon. Member must be aware, the League of Nations is in course of preparing the ground for a general disarmament conference, and a restricted naval conference convened by the United States Government is due to open next month. The success of these several efforts in the cause of disarmament would hardly be furthered by the introduction of fresh proposals similar in object but dissimilar in kind.
§ Mr. THURTLEDoes not the hon. Gentleman think it is thoroughly illogical that all these Powers, having signed the Pact of Peace, should be continuing to pile up armaments against each other?
§ Mr. LOOKERCan my hon. Friend say whether the Soviet Government has taken part in the Disarmament Conferences referred to?
Captain CROOKSHANKWill my hon. Friend repudiate the statement made in this question of competition in armaments, as there is no competition at the present time?