§ 24. Mr. SMITHERSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the statement in the Preamble to the Covenant of the League of Nations that the non-adoption by any nation of a humane labour régime is an obstacle to the efforts of other nations to improve the lot of workers and in view of the fact that Soviet representatives have been invited to attend the meeting at Geneva on 15th May of the European Committee of the League, he will make it a condition that His Majesty's representatives shall refuse to enter upon any discussions at such committee until the Soviet Government has agreed to allow an independent inquiry to be made by the League of Nations into the conditions of labour in Russia?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Arthur Henderson)The passage to which the hon. Member refers occurs in the Preamble to Part XIII—the Labour Section—of the Treaty of Versailles, and not in the Preamble to the Covenant of the League, as suggested by the hon. Member. It affects only the signatories of the Treaty of Versailles. I do not consider that it would be either useful or practicable to make a condition such as that suggested by the hon. Member in connection with the meeting to be held at Geneva.
§ Mr. SMITHERSWhy do the Government refuse to take any practical steps to improve the conditions of the workers in this country?