§ 6. Sir J. POWERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can furnish a statement showing the present and the pre-War effective expenditure on armaments by this country and by the principal European countries whose areas have not been very materially altered, together with the present rate of expenditure if corrected to the pre-War value of money in each country?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir. I could not give any figures which would 1004 be likely to be accepted by all those concerned, nor could I myself take responsibility for any estimates which might be framed.
§ Lieut-Commander KENWORTHYHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the estimate that has been made by the Secretariat of the League of Nations, giving this matter in full detail?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINWhatever the Secretariat of the League of Nations has published is entitled to all the authority which is due to that source, but I cannot make myself personally responsible for the presentation of an estimate which I could not guarantee.
§ Mr. HERBERT WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget speech made an estimate which differs materially from that published by the League of Nations?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThat rather confirms what I have said; that no one estimate is likely to command approval by all parties concerned.