HC Deb 23 January 1930 vol 234 cc341-3
Mr. STANLEY BALDWIN

May I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the business is for next week?

Mr. SNOWDEN

Monday, Debate on the Foreign Secretary's Motion for the ratification of the signature of the Optional Clause. Supply: Report of Supplementaries for Ministry of Labour and Beet Sugar Subsidy; Ways and Means, Report; Land Drainage (Scotland) Money Resolution, Report.

Tuesday, Coal Mines, Money Resolution, Committee; Children (Employment Abroad) Bill, Second Reading; and, if time permits, other Orders on the Paper. The Money Resolution on the Coal Mines Bill will be put down to-day and the White Paper will be circulated tomorrow.

I have not announced the business for Thursday, because it will depend on whether the Unemployment Insurance Bill comes here from another place.

Mr. BALDWIN

I want to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer a question with regard to the first business for Monday; that is the Debate on the Optional Clause. I should like to know whether he and his colleagues have considered the extraordinary delicacy of some of the questions which must be discussed having regard to the fact that an International Conference is sitting at this moment in London?

Mr. SNOWDEN

It has, of course, been known for many months that such a conference as is now sitting in London would be taking place about this time, and during these months I have heard many requests from hon. Members opposite for a Debate upon the Optional Clause. I believe the Foreign Secretary was asked only a few days ago whether he could find time for such a Debate. What the right hon. Gentleman describes as a delicate situation has existed for some time, but that is no reason why a discussion of this question should be further postponed.

Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

The right hon. Gentleman knows that, before the House adjourned at Christmas, I pressed that this discussion should be taken before the International Conference met. Does he bear in mind the fact that the White Paper which the Government have issued has been the subject of comment, not to say of criticism, by important authorities in the United States, including the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate, the Secretary of State, and the President of the United States himself; and that it is impossible to discuss the ratification of the Optional Clause without allusion to and comment upon these statements and upon matters which may or may not be topics of conversation between the delegates now assembled in London? It is not from any desire not to discuss the question, but from a sense of the injury which may be done to great public interests by taking this discussion at this time that I venture to press the matter further on the right hon. Gentleman.

Mr. SNOWDEN

I certainly note this new desire on the part of the party opposite not to raise debates upon any question that might have unfortunate repercussions, but the right hon. Gentleman, I think, was mistaken in his references to opinions which were expressed in the United States with regard to the White Paper. They were expressed on an inaccurate telegraphic summary of that White Paper, but I have a very vivid recollection that the following day, after a full copy had been received, Mr. Stimson withdrew the comment be had made and expressed approval of the contents of the White Paper. It is somewhat difficult, I admit, but unless this Clause is ratified now, if it has to wait until this Conference has finished its labours, it may be three months before it is ratified. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave an assurance, I believe, to the Council of the League, that we would proceed with ratification as soon as possible. Of course, there are two or three days between now and Monday, and, although I cannot hold out any hope that the attitude of the Government with regard to taking this Debate will be changed, we are quite open to consider the matter through the usual channels between now and Monday.

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

I refrain from any comment on the offensive observation of the right hon. Gentleman. There was plenty of time to take this Debate before the Conference met, but it was the Government's decision—

The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Arthur Henderson)

We offered a day.

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

We asked for a day for it, and you refused it. I beg the right hon. Gentleman, as he has promised, to consider seriously the effect that a discussion on this question may have on the International Conference.

Mr. MANDER

There is a Motion on this subject in the name of a large number of Members on the Liberal benches. Will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to hold the debate at the earliest possible moment?

Mr. COCKS

Will not the ratification of the Optional Clause assist the success of the Disarmament Conference?