HC Deb 13 December 1933 vol 284 cc341-2
1. Mr. MANDER

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give an assurance that it is still the intention of the British Government to give support to the French plan for the general supervision of arms under the Disarmament Convention?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Eden)

I would refer the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. A. Bevan) on the 11th December.

Mr. MANDER

Do I understand that we still adhere to the French plan, and have not withdrawn from it at all?

Mr. EDEN

I do not know what the hon. Member understands by the French plan. Perhaps he will turn up the speech of my right hon. Friend on the 7th November. The position there stated is the position now.

Mr. COCKS

Does the hon. Gentleman mean that we stand by the principle of general permanent supervision?

Mr. EDEN

If the hon. Member would not mind turning up the speech of my right hon. Friend he will find it more clearly stated there.

2. Mr. MANDER

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any international consideration has been given to the advisability of raising under Article 213 of the Treaty of Versailles the question of the present position of German armaments?

Mr. EDEN

No. Sir; not so far as I am aware.

Mr. MANDER

Does that mean that it has not been raised by France?

Mr. EDEN

As far as we are aware, it has received no international consideration.

3. Mr. MANDER

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will consider the advisability, in the diplomatic negotiations on the subject of disarmament which are now taking place, of putting forward, on behalf of this country, proposals which would include the abandonment of all the weapons forbidden to Germany in the Treaty of Versailles, including tanks and heavy mobile artillery; a return to the original five-year plan of the British draft convention without a probationary period; budgetary control; and an all-round supervision of armaments?

8 and 10. Mr. COCKS

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he is in a position to make a statement upon the course of the supplementary and parallel conversations taking place on the subject of disarmament;

(2) whether His Majesty's Government's declared policy in favour of regulated disarmament includes any measure of re-armament for Germany?

Mr. EDEN

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. A. Bevan) on the 11th December.

Mr. MANDER

Would not a policy of this kind be better than a policy of drift?