37. Mr. FOOT MITCHELLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give particulars of any Measures adopted in foreign countries to prevent the insurance of arms to China?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI am informed by the Institute of London Underwriters that in May last they circularised the underwriting associations of the principal markets of the world suggesting that they should enter into a voluntary agreement not to insure consignments of arms and munitions for China, similar to that referred to in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for South-East Essex (Mr. Looker) on 21st May last. The Institute inform me that such an agreement has been adopted by the underwriting associations of France, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Greece, Japan, Poland, Switzerland, Yugo-Slavia and the United States of America. The insurance of arms to China is prohibited in Germany by an Act passed on the 30th March last. This Act remains in force until 1st May, 1929, but its period of validity may be extended by ordinance. The agreement has also been adopted by the association of Czechoslovakia for the period of the validity of the German law. Favourable replies have also been received from Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Sweden and Turkey, though the associations of those countries have not formally adopted the agreement. Great credit is due to the Institute of London Underwriters for the public service they have performed in bringing about the adoption of this agreement throughout the principal markets of the world, and I am glad to take this opportunity of expressing my high appreciation of their services.