HC Deb 31 July 1930 vol 242 cc706-7
Mr. GODFREY LOCKER-LAMPSON

(by Private Notice) asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give a pledge that the Government will sign no treaty regarding any amendments to the Covenant of the League of Nations which may increase the commitments of this country without first laying their proposals before Parliament for approval?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Dalton)

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the replies given by my right hon. Friend to questions on this subject on 21st May and 28th May, in which he stated that, if the proposed amendments were approved at the next meeting of the Assembly, this House would have an opportunity of debating them before ratification. To these replies I have nothing to add.

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

Does that mean that the Government can come to a final decision at Geneva about these amendments without the approval of Parliament?

Mr. DALTON

I think the right hon. Gentleman knows, having been my predecessor at the Foreign Office, that the process by which the League of Nations Covenant is amended is a long one and requires not only approval by the Assembly of a resolution in the first instance, but afterwards both the signature and the ratification of the signature of all members of the Council and of a majority of the members of the Assembly. No step will be taken binding this country by ratification to support these amendments until the matter has been discussed in this House.

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

Owing to the very unsatisfactory reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this question on the Appropriation Bill.