20. Sir F. HALLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there have been any cases in which the provisions with regard to the export from Germany of munitions of war under certain circumstances under the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles have not been adhered to?
Mr. A. HENDERSONThe German Government have passed a special law for preventing the export of war material as prohibited by the Treaty of Versailles. There may be occasional evasions of this law, but I am glad to say that no cases have hitherto occurred of sufficiently important and sufficiently well-established magnitude to make it necessary for the other signatories of the Treaty to bring them to the attention of the Council of the League under Article 213.
Sir F. HALLThen the attempted exportation of 16 railway truckloads of munitions of war was not considered of sufficient importance by the Government to need their intervention? [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer!"] Has the right hon. Gentleman received information as to the proposed exportation of 16 railway truckloads of munitions to China, and is not that of any importance?
Sir F. HALLSeeing that Members are responsible for the questions that they put in this House, will the right hon. Gentleman inquire from the German Government whether there is any truth in the statement which I have just made?
§ Mr. MARJORIBANKSNow that there are two Secretaries of State for Foreign Affairs, does not the right hon. Gentleman think—