§ 4. Mr. NOEL BUXTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, having regard to the fact that the German Government has agreed to grant £50,000 in aid of the settlement of Armenian refugees in Erivan provided that four other Governments subscribe and that the League of Nations is responsible for the expenses of administering the scheme, he will give reasons explaining why the British delegate on the Fifth Commission of the Assembly 1188 of the League of Nations gave the only dissentient vote against the fulfilment of the two conditions named?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe right hon. Gentleman is, I think, under some misapprehension. When this matter was considered at Geneva in September last, seventeen Governments had replied to the appeal circulated by the Secretary-General on the 31st of October, 1927. Only four of these had declared themselves prepared to contribute to the realisation of the plan. The offer of the German Government was not an unrestricted grant in aid of settlement, but, subject to the conditions referred to by the right hon. Gentleman, was an offer to grant a credit up to £50,000 for the purchase in Germany of tools and machinery. The Norwegian Government had similarly offered a credit of £2,000 to be used in Norway in the purchase of material. Rumania was prepared to offer £1,000, and the Greek Government to contribute part of the cost of transporting refugees to the Caucasus. £100,000 had been contributed by Armenians in Europe towards the expenses of the scheme. As the right hon. Gentleman was informed on the 21st February, His Majesty's Government felt that, in view of the large amount already contributed by this country to Armenian relief, they would not be justified in calling on the British taxpayer to make further sacrifices for this purpose. In these circumstances, the British delegation at Geneva felt that the scheme had not received sufficient support to render it desirable that the League of Nations should continue to be associated with it, and the British delegate on the Sixth Commission was consequently unable to support the proposal for a grant from League of Nation funds to meet the administrative expenses of the scheme.
§ Mr. BUXTONWhen the appeal is again being considered by His Majesty's Government, will the right hon. Gentleman give it favourable consideration, bearing in mind the arguments used by the Prime Minister in favour of such grant in 1924?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINHis Majesty's Government have carefully considered the matter, and their view is expressed in the answer which I have already given. 1189 I have great doubts as to the feasibility or success of this scheme. In any ease, His Majesty's Government feel that in view of the contributions we have already made we cannot ask our taxpayers at the present time to make any further contributions.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider that we have carried out our very solemn pledges made to the Armenians during the War?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe history of this question is, I think, one of the saddest phases of the War. If there has been failure to carry out all the obligations undertaken by ourselves jointly with other Powers, I think the blame is not upon this country.