§ 13. Major HILLSasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement as to the arrangements proposed by the Government for the forthcoming Disarmament Conference?
§ Captain EDENThe General Disarmament Conference will be held at Geneva in February next. I am glad to have this opportunity of informing the House that His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are definitely opposed to any postponement of the date of the 498 Conference. This view was expressed on 10th September by Lord Cecil to the Assembly of the League of Nations at Geneva.
§ 43. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the proposal of the Italian Foreign Minister at the League of Nations Assembly on the 8th September last for a cessation of the manufacture of armaments and war preparations prior to the Disarmament Conference; and what is the attitude of His Majesty's Government to this proposal?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Since Signor Grandi's speech, the Delegations of Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland have submitted a resolution to the Assembly calling upon Governments to abstain, pending the result of the Disarmament Conference, from any measures leading to an increase in the present level of their armaments. This resolution will presumbaly be discussed in the appropriate Committee of the Assembly and His Majesty's Government will keep in close touch with its leading representative.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYThe Prime Minister has not answered the last part of the question, which is the most important part; what is the attitude of the Government in regard to the proposal?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo proposal has been made.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYThe Prime Minister has said that Signor Grandi made a proposal to the Assembly. What is the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards that proposal?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI said that he made a speech.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYBut the speech contained a proposal. Can the right hon. Gentleman say what His Majesty's Government propose to do?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe speech contained a suggestion, and that suggestion is being worked out in detail. Until we know the details His Majesty's Government cannot pronounce a decision.