§ Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now made inquiries concerning the advertisement placed by a British armament firm in the German paper Militar Wochenblatt, pages 239–40 and 375–6, advertising war equipment, including weapons forbidden to Germany by the Treaty of Versailles; and whether the Law Officers of the Crown have been consulted as to the illegal aspect?
§ The PRIME MINISTERFor the reasons already given by my right hon. Friend in reply to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. T. Williams), no further inquiries have been made concerning this advertisement, nor have the Law Officers of the Crown been consulted.
§ Mr. MANDERDoes not the Prime Minister think that there ought to be a searching investigation into this most disturbing matter, and will he not consider whether inquiries should not be made as to how it occurred?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think my right hon. Friend made a reply—which I carefully studied before I gave this one—which completely finished the job.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSDid not the Foreign Secretary promise to make full investigation into, the advertisements referred to, and do we understand from the Prime Minister that those investigations have not been carried out?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn so far as that promise was made, my hon. Friend may assume that it will be fulfilled.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIn view of the fact that several right hon. Gentlemen sitting on the Front Bench are interested in one of these firms—
§ Mr. SPEAKERrose—
§ Mr. WILLIAMSOn a point of Order. I had no desire or intention to reflect on any right hon. Gentleman when I made that observation. I was only about to say that, in view of the fact that a false impression may be created, will the Prime Minister see that these investigations are carried out?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI hope my hon. Friend will not give voice to that false impression.