§ 2. Mr. HARRISasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the use of a secret service by the various members of the League of Nations, in order to obtain information secretly about the defences and armaments of the different States forming the League, has been discussed by the Council of the League or any of its committees; and whether he will consider the possibility of the machinery of the League being used to prevent or discourage these methods of obtaining information, as its use is one of the reasons of international suspicion and friction?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI am not clear what the hon. Member wishes the League to do, but it does not appear to me that it could intervene usefully in this matter.
§ Mr. HARRISDoes the right hon. Gentleman not realise that so long as the system of spying on almost every country prevails, all prospect of disarmament is very remote, because the system of spying leads to mutual suspicion?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI do not think that spying is the source of armaments, or that the abolition of espionage or the Secret Service would facilitate the cessation of armaments.
§ Mr. HARRISHas this question ever been discussed at the League of Nations?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINIn the League of Nations, or, at any rate, as far I am concerned with it, it is my endeavour that it should discuss practical and useful propositions.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLHas not the British Government gone as far as it possibly can to indicate 1145 its desire to assist in the reduction of armaments when it is possible to come to agreement with other countries?