HC Deb 06 June 1932 vol 266 cc1568-70
6. Mr. MORGAN JONES

asked the Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India have been invited to send a representative to the proposed International Conference on commodity prices which is shortly to be convened in London?

Sir S. HOARE

As was stated on the 1st June by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the matter has not yet advanced beyond an informal and entirely preliminary stage.

18. Captain PETER MACDONALD

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the reply of the Government of the United States of America that they are in favour of an early conference under Anglo-American auspices on the subject of world trade, invitations are being issued to other Powers to participate in such a conference?

The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN FFAIRS (Sir John Simon)

The conversations which have taken place on this question have not yet reached the stage where the issue of invitations to a conference can be considered. As I explained in my reply to the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition on the 1st of June, the matter is still in an entirely preliminary stage. I have explained the whole matter to the representatives in London of the other five Powers who with ourselves issued the invitation to the Lausanne Conference and have invited their views upon it. The question cannot be carried further until these views have been received and considered.

Captain MACDONALD

How many of the five Powers have replied?

Sir J. SIMON

I do not think any reply has been received. This is a very serious matter and it is only two or three days since they were communicated with.

Captain MACDONALD

Is it a fact that the United States Government have accepted?

Sir ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUEL

Will the right hon. Gentleman take an early opportunity of defining more closely what is meant by the words "subject of world trade"? Is he aware that it is very nebulous and that we do not know yet what it means?

Sir J. SIMON

It is partly for that reason that we have communicated with other Governments.

45. Colonel GRETTON

asked the Prime Minister if it is intended that the International Economic Conference shall take place in London prior to the Empire Conference at Ottawa, and if an assurance can be given that no engagements or agreements will be made with foreign Powers which will limit or curtail the full liberty of the Government to discuss and make Empire agreements at the Ottawa Conference?

The LORD PRESIDENT

of the COUNCIL (Mr. Baldwin): As explained by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in reply to the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition on the 1st June, the matter has not advanced beyond an informal and entirely preliminary stage, and, until the views of the Governments chiefly concerned have been received, there can be no question of fixing any time or place for the conference. The Government retain the fullest liberty of action at Ottawa.

Colonel GRETTON

Do I gather from the reply that it is the intention of the Government to keep the fullest liberty of action at Ottawa at any conference which may be held?

Mr. BALDWIN

Yes, as has always been the case.

Mr. MAXTON

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen a paragraph in the newspapers stating that the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister were not seeing eye to eye on this matter of the Economic Conference, and can he say whether there is any truth in it

Mr. BALDWIN

Nothing that I had said would lead to such an inference, and, if it did, it would be a false inference.

Mr. CHURCHILL

Has the Lord President of the Council any statement to make upon the subject of the Economic, or monetary, Conference? A statement was made in answer to a question that my right hon. Friend would make a statement to-day.

Mr. SPEAKER

I have had no notice of that question.