HC Deb 02 June 1930 vol 239 cc1755-6
19. Captain EDEN

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what amendments, if any, the Government intend to put forward to the proposals for the amendment of the Covenant of the League embodied in the Scialoja report?

Mr. A. HENDERSON

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to a similar question by the right hon. Gentleman, the Member for West Birmingham (Sir A. Chamberlain), on the 21st of May.

Mr. GODFREY LOCKER-LAMPSON

Will the right hon. Gentleman give special consideration to one of the proposals which seeks for the first time to provide something in the nature of an actual award in cases of dispute?

Mr. HENDERSON

I must have notice of that question.

Captain EDEN

Will the right hon. Gentleman say when he thinks that he will be in a position to make any statement on the matter?

Mr. HENDERSON

I think I have already told the House all the information I wish to give on the point.

Major ELLIOT

Will the right hon. Gentleman take note of the resolution on the subject which he has received from the Executive of the League of Nations Union?

Mr. HENDERSON

I do not know that I have received it yet, but I will certainly take it into account when it arrives.

Mr. C. WILLIAMS

Why does the right hon. Gentleman wish to give so little information?

23. Captain EDEN

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government proposes to consult Parliament as to the amendments to the covenant proposed by the Scialoja report before the text of those proposals has been finally agreed by the assembly at Geneva?

Mr. HENDERSON

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to a question on the same subject by the hon. and gallant Member on Wednesday last.

Captain EDEN

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate allowing of discussion on this subject? It leaves Parliament no control whatever over commitments which the Government may make.

Mr. HENDERSON

The hon. and gallant Member was a Member of the previous Government.

Captain EDEN

No.

Mr. HENDERSON

Well, the hon. and gallant Member was associated with my Department under my predecessor, and knows what procedure was followed in connection with Locarno.

Captain EDEN

The previous Government was not a minority Government.