§ 26. Mr. LEWISasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will, in the interests of economy, make representations to the League of Nations to the effect that, while we are prepared to pay our proportion of the expenses of the League on the assumption that all other members of the League pay theirs, we are not prepared to pay an additional sum to make good defaults in payment of other members of the League?
§ Mr. EDENNo, Sir. The non-payment of contributions to the League by certain of its members is not made good by additional contributions from this country, but out of surplus funds of the League. I would remind my hon. Friend that, as has previously been explained, it has been the practice of the League in some years to reduce contributions of States Members of the League by the deduction, in proportionate shares, of the surplus from the previous year. To this extent the contributions of the States who have paid their allotted shares punctually have possibly not been reduced to the extent they might have been if all contributions had been paid promptly.
§ Mr. LEWISWill the hon. Gentleman put forward the suggestion that representatives of those countries that have not paid their contributions should not take part in the deliberations and decisions of the League in the meantime?