§ 76. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the full-page advertisements of various land armaments appearing in German technical and military papers on behalf of an English armament firm; and what steps are taken to prevent firms in this country engaging in activities that are contrary to the provisions of Article 170 of the Treaty of Versailles, which prohibits the importation into Germany of arms, munitions, and war material of every kind?
§ Sir J. SIMONI have seen in a newspaper a reproduction of this advertisement, but I do not know to what market or country it is addressed. All exports of war material from this country are subject to licence, and no such licence has been or would be given in respect of any consignment contrary to the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the advertisements referred to are in German technical and military papers, and does he not think, in view of Article 170, that this is. a flagrant violation of the intention and spirit of the Treaty of Versailles?
§ Sir J. SIMONMy hon. Friend will, I am sure, have in mind that papers printed in German circulate through a very considerable part of the world. I can only repeat, without any qualification at all, that no licence has been and no licence would be given for any export which would be contrary to the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSBut is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these two are German papers, printed, published, and circulated in Germany, and that while we are supposed to be talking about disarmament, an English firm is advertising, in German newspapers, all sorts of war materials? Does he not think that the Government have some responsibility for their nationals?
§ Sir J. SIMONNo, Sir. The Government have no responsibility whatever. The hon. Gentleman had his attention called to this, and thought it was a point. I have explained to him that, in point of fact, there has not been and could not be 510 any export of prohibited materials to Germany at all. On the other hand, I am sure my hon. Friend is well aware that German is one of the great languages of the world, and as a matter of fact in South America, for example, there is a very considerable circulation of German technical papers. I have given him the whole of the information which in fact I have in my possession.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWhile regretting the right hon. Gentleman's observation about making a point, may I ask if he is not aware that there are millions of peace-loving people in this country and in Germany who regard this thing as having been condoned by the Government? Is it the case that this firm sell armaments similar to those advertised in these two German papers at a smaller price here than they do on the Continent, and is that the reason the Government condone this offence?
§ Sir J. SIMONBy no stretch of imagination can that arise out of the question or the answer, but I will reply, if I may be allowed, by saying that I certainly do not know that millions of people are interested in this, which is printed in a particular newspaper this morning—I do not know at whose request or for what purpose—but which, as I have pointed out, has nothing in the world to do with the British Government.