§ 2. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British representatives on the two sub-committees dealing with traffic in arms at Geneva have received any instructions to support or oppose the private manufacture of armaments; and, if not, will he state what is the British Government's policy?
§ Mr. EDENThe representative of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom on the sub-committee which is considering the question of the regulation of the manufacture of arms, has been instructed to oppose a proposal which has been made that the private manufacture of arms should be totally suppressed. The policy of His Majesty's Government is that equality of treatment, as regards publicity, should be accorded both to State and to private manufacture, and they are prepared to consider any suitable scheme for the national control of private manufacture of arms, provided that it is accepted and enforced equally in all arms-producing States.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the French, Italian and Danish Governments have all supported the final suppression of the private manufacture of armaments, and does he still believe that merely to give publicity to the production thereof is a guarantee against their sale?
§ Mr. EDENNo, I am certainly not aware that the Italian Government supported this proposal. It is entirely news to me, and I do not think it is accurate. I cannot argue this question at Question Time, but I would remind the hon. Member that the positions of countries with little State manufacture and little private manufacture are not strictly comparable.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSDo we understand that it is the settled policy of the Government to continue to support the private manufacture of armaments of all kinds?
§ Mr. EDENThe hon. Gentleman is to understand that it is the policy of the Government to treat equally public and private manufacture.
§ Captain PETER MACDONALDWould it not be very unjust to suppress private enterprise in this country while the manufacture of arms is in the hands of the State in most of the countries mentioned by the hon. Member?
§ 3. Mr. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government has yet received from the President of the Disarmament Conference a questionnaire concerning the private and State manufacture of arms and implements of war; and, if so, whether any reply has been sent?
§ Mr. EDENYes, Sir. The questionnaire in question has been received and is under consideration. The questions asked therein are of a somewhat detailed and complicated nature, but a reply will be sent as soon as possible.
§ 9. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make with reference to the Disarmament Conference and the co-operation of Germany therewith?
§ Mr. EDENMy hon. Friend will have seen from the Press the terms of the declaration which the five Powers, Great Britain, the United States of America, France, Italy and Germany, have signed at Geneva. By signing this declaration Germany has agreed to resume her place at the Disarmament Conference, the full activities of which will, it is hoped, shortly be resumed.
§ Mr. MANDERIs it the intention of the President of the Disarmament Conference to take any part in any further Five-Power Conferences, as is reported?