§ Mr. AMERY(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister if he has anything to announce regarding the representation of His Majesty's Government at the Conferences of Lausanne and Ottawa?
§ The PRIME MINISTERHis Majesty's Government have to be represented practically simultaneously at three most important conferences this summer—the Disarmament Conference at Geneva, the Conference at Lausanne opening in June, and the Imperial Economic Conference at Ottawa beginning in July. The House will appreciate the difficulties of securing for these conferences the attendance of Ministers whose Departments are concerned in the business to be done together with others who would obviously be of the greatest assistance; and any announcement I can now make must depend upon what imperative claims are made upon Ministers.
§ The selection for Geneva is known. To Lausanne will go:
§ Myself,
§ The Chancellor of the Exchequer,
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
§ The President of the Board of Trade,
§ and should it be found to be advisable and possible the services of one or other of the following Ministers will be enlisted:
462§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department,
§ The Secretary of State for India,
§ The Minister of Health,
§ and a representative of the Dominions Office.
§ The Ottawa representation will be:
§ The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs,
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies, The President of the Board of Trade, a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture,
§ and, subject to the conditions already mentioned, the Lord President of the Council, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Secretary of State for War.
§ Mr. BUCHANANWill the Prime Minister bear in mind that the Minister of Labour is left out?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat enables me to say that we shall be able to use the services of the Minister of Labour in a miscellaneous way during the absence' of his colleagues.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs not the truth this, that the kindly temperament of the Minister of Labour has saved him from quarrelling in the Cabinet for a place?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMay I say in order to allay apprehension and reports that there was never even the shadow of a quarrel in the Cabinet on this matter.
§ Mr. BUCHANANLike the secret meetings of the Labour party.
§ Mr. HANNONMay I ask whether, in view of the profound importance to the future of the Empire of the conference at Ottawa, the Prime Minister will consider the desirability, if at all possible, of sending the Chancellor of the Exchequer?