HC Deb 12 December 1928 vol 223 cc2093-6
8. Colonel WEDGWOOD

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any communication from the German Government on the question of linking reparations and evacuation or on the question of his reading of Article 431, together with the letter of the three Prime Ministers; and will he make inquiries as to the views of the American Government on these points?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by making the inquiries suggested by the right hon. and gallant Member.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister advocated quite recently closer co-operation in ideas with America, and is it not vitally important that in our policy as regards reparations and evacuation, we should know what America. thinks and work in co-operation with her?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

The right hon. Gentleman must remember that his question refers to the Treaty of Versailles. The United States of America never ratified that Treaty. They made their own treaty bi-laterally with Germany, and there is no reason to suppose that they wish to be consulted on these matters.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

If America did not take part in the Treaty of Versailles, is that any reason for inconveniencing ourselves and our own policy by not now securing their co-operation, particularly as America is represented on the Reparations Commission, and we are asked to send members to this joint Board?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

Conversations are now going on between the various Powers at Lugano, and I hope that we shall arrive at an amicable settlement. So far as I know, America does not in the least wish to be consulted on the question of evacuation.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Is it not obvious that a solution at Lugano would be infinitely more in our favour if we had the backing of a party which is not represented, but which is vitally interested in the question of reparations? I know that the right hon. Gentleman agrees with me, but he will not say so.

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

I do not think that I can add anything to what I have said.

Captain GARRO-JONES

Is there any hope of the British Government arriving at any views of its own instead of constantly adopting the views of France and other countries?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

My right hon. Friend has gone to Lugano in order to express our opinion.

10. Mr. RENNIE SMITH

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the conflict of opinion as to the legal interpretation of Article 431 of the Peace Treaty affecting the withdrawal of troops from the Rhine, he can see his way to recommend that the matter be referred to the World Court for a decision?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

No, Sir. I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which I gave on the 10th December to the questions asked by the right hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Colonel Wedgwood).

Mr. SMITH

Arising out of this reply and the previous reply, and in view of the fact that the lawyers of the three countries concerned with the interpretation of this Treaty have all been quarrelling with one another as to its interpretation, is not His Majesty's Government prepared to submit this matter to an international Court?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

I should have thought the best way of settling this question was in the way in which an attempt is being made to settle it now, that is, by friendly conversations and negotiations between the different Powers.

Mr. SMITH

In view of the fact that the decision of His Majesty's Government last week on this legal point has made the negotiations more difficult, and that it is purely an ex parte judgment of one Government out of three; and, in view of the fact that His Majesty's Government have always refrained from committing themselves to arbitration on the ground—

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member must not abuse the privileges of Question Time.

Mr. SMITH

I am not seeking to abuse the privileges of the House. I am seeking to put the point of view that His Majesty's Government have—

Mr. SPEAKER

Hon. Members do not seem to understand that Question Time is not the time to put points of view.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Are we to judge from the reply we have received that His Majesty's Government do not attribute much importance to the legal point of view, and think that the practical point of view is of more importance than the legal decision of these matters?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has stated what in the opinion of His Majesty's Government was the legal point of view, and he went on to add that there was another point of view as to policy, and this is the point of view which is now under discussion at Lugano.

Mr. SMITH

But in view of the fact that the legal interpretation given by His Majesty's Government is hotly disputed and does require, therefore, some international interpretation, and in view of the fact that His Majesty's Government have said over and over again that they were willing to submit all suitable cases—

Mr. SPEAKER

Mr. Duncan.

Captain CROOKSHANK

Is it, in fact, true that there has been no difference of opinion between the Allied Powers on the legal point?