§ Mr. LANSBURY(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there was any information he could give the House on the situation in Jehol, and the attitude of the Japanese Government towards the proceedings of the League of Nations in regard to the Sino-Japanese dispute; and whether he could also give the House any information as to the proposal for an embargo on arms exported to Japan or China?
§ Sir J. SIMONAs regards the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's question, I have no information to confirm the Press reports that fighting has begun in Jehol. Marshal Chang Hsueh-liang and the Chinese Minister of Finance have paid a visit to Jehol and the former has telegraphed to the Chinese Delegation at Geneva that he has categorical orders from the Central Government to resist. I am not aware of the nature of the instructions which have been sent to the Japanese Delegates at Geneva.
As regards the latter part, I would reply that the draft report prepared by the Committee of Nineteen is, I understand, coming before the Special Assembly of the League of Nations this afternoon and we must await the decision of the Assembly in regard to it and the attitude of the parties to the report when adopted. On the subject of embargoes on arms I may point out, in the language employed by President Hoover in a recent message to Congress, that "for one nation alone to engage in such prohibitions while other nations continue to supply arms is a futility." The matter therefore in its wider aspect involves international questions of complexity and difficulty, and I can make no further statement at present.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWill the Government be prepared to enter into negotiations with the United States and other Governments on the subject of an embargo if war does break out, that is to say if the reports in the Press prove to be true?
§ Sir J. SIMONI might remind the right hon. Gentleman that I informed the House on Wednesday last that His Majesty's Government have been in communication with and have had an exchange of views with certain Governments with a view to prohibiting the export of arms and munitions of war in connection with a South American matter. The message of President Hoover to which I have referred urged that legislation should be enacted by the United States Congress to enable the Executive in special cases to place the United States in line with other nations who may be willing to take action of this sort in the event of military conflict. But no such legislation has yet been passed. I must not anticipate the decision of the Government, but it appears to me that these matters must be considered internationally, and I should have thought that it was at Geneva that discussion would take place.
§ Mr. LANSBURYThe only point I wish to press on the right hon. Gentleman is that, either to-day or on an early day, he ought to state what is the mind of the British Government on this subject and whether we are now prepared to co-operate with President Hoover or his successor on this subject.
§ Sir J. SIMONI think I have already shown that we have been very willing to discover from the United States what co-operation is possible. I quite agree with the right hon. Gentleman that the matter is very important and that it is urgent, and, while I must claim time for us to consider it in all its bearings, it is quite right that a statement should be expected from the Government at an early date.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWill the right hon. Gentleman let me know as early as possible when I may put a question to him again on the subject?
§ Sir J. SIMONI will.
§ Major NATHANMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the statement 1601 which he has just made to the House is to be interpreted as meaning that His Majesty's Government do not propose to take immediate steps to prevent the export from this country of munitions of war to, or for the use of Japan?
§ Sir J. SIMONI hope that the hon. and gallant Gentleman will not find that the answers which I have just given are in the least obscure. In case he has not understood them, however, I will repeat a portion of them. It would appear to me that until the draft report has been considered by the Assembly of the League and until the nations represented in the Assembly of the League have expressed their view of the report, it would not only be premature but quite improper to make the sort of declaration for which the hon. and gallant Member asks.
§ Major NATHANIn view of the answer given by the right hon. Gentleman, I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely,
the refusal of His Majesty's Government, in view of the operations of war begun in Jehol this morning, to take immediate steps to prevent the export from this country of munitions of war to, or for the use of Japan.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Member has asked for leave to move the Adjournment of the House in order to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely,
the refusal of His Majesty's Government. in view of the operations of war begun in Jehol this morning, to take immediate steps to prevent the export from this country of munitions of war to, or for the use of Japan.It does not seem to me, after the explanation which has been given, that this matter would come under Standing Order 10, and therefore I cannot give the hon. and gallant Member leave to move the Adjournment.
§ Major NATHANMay I be allowed respectfully to make this submission to you, Sir? It appears from the statement made here by the Foreign Secretary that this is a matter of definite public 1602 importance. The only point upon which, in my submission, any doubt can arise is as to whether it is urgent or not, and on that point I venture to make these two observations. In the first place, the question could not have been raised until to-day, because, until to-day, it would have been in the realm of hypothesis. No operations of war had begun in Jehol. The hypothesis has now become, and has only to-day become, a fact. In these circumstances, I submit that the matter could not have been raised until to-day. In the second place, as regards the urgency of the matter in the sense of whether or not it is so urgent that it cannot be allowed to stand over for a later Debate, I quote the words of the Foreign Secretary himself who, in answer to my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition, said categorically that he regarded the matter as urgent. I would further submit that when war is imminent or indeed begun in any part of the world the question of the policy which the British Government is to adopt in relation to it is, in itself, a matter or urgency. I venture respectfully, Sir, to make these submissions in the hope that you will see your way to modify the Ruling which you have just given.
§ Mr. SPEAKERAs far as I understand, the draft report is under consideration.