§ 10 and 11. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether, in view of the Articles 168 to 170, inclusive, of the Treaty of Versailles limiting the production of war material in Germany and placing it under the observation of the principal allied and associated Powers, His Majesty's Government has any information concerning the export of arms, munitions, and other war material from Germany to China and Japan; and what is the value and the nature of such material exported during the past six months;
(2) what is the machinery by which His Majesty's Government approves or disapproves of the manufacture of, and trade in, arms, munitions, or other war material in Germany, as allowed for in Articles 168 to 170 inclusive of the Treaty of Versailles?
§ Sir J. SIMONSince the withdrawal of the inter-Allied Commission of Control from Germany the duty of ensuring the observance of the military clauses of the Treaty of Versailles has been transferred, in virtue of Article 213, from the Inter-Allied Powers to the Council of the League of Nations. I have no information to show that any war material which may have been recently shipped to China and Japan is of German origin.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWhat machinery is in existence to approve or disapprove of the manufacture and export of such war material as was referred to in Articles 168 to 170 of the Treaty of Versailles?
§ Sir J. SIMONI think the position is that under the later Article—Article 213—the same jurisdiction as was exercised under Articles 168 to 170 is now exercised by the Council of the League of Nations. I speak subject to correction, but I think that is so.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWhen decisions are taken which, after all, are very important, is publicity given to the approval or disapproval of production or sale of such material?
§ Sir J. SIMONI could not answer that question.
§ Mr. THORNEIs it not a wicked thing for any of the Governments that signed the Kellogg Pact to send munitions of war to China or Japan?
§ Sir J. SIMONThat question does not arise.