HC Deb 15 March 1933 vol 275 cc1947-9
6. Mr. T. WILLIAMS

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many nations have yet replied to the questionnaire on the private manufacture of arms issued by Mr. Arthur Henderson, president of the Disarmament Conference; which were the nations concerned; and what was the nature of their replies?

Mr. BALDWIN

According to the most recent information received from Geneva 35 nations have replied to this questionnaire. With the hon. Member's permission I will circulate the list in the OFFICIAL REPORT. It would be impossible for me to give a résumé of all these replies within the compass of an answer to a question in this House.

Mr. WILLIAMS

In any case where countries have replied have they given the exact number and percentage of their people who produce arms exclusively?

Mr. BALDWIN

I require notice of that question.

Following is the list:
Panama. United States of America.
Bulgaria.
Estonia. New Zealand.
Latvia. Rumania.
Albania. Japan.
Portugal. France.
Afghanistan. Irish Free State.
Turkey. Belgium.
Siam. China.
Poland. Sweden.
South Africa. Yugoslavia.
Greece. Finland.
Iraq. Netherlands
Norway. (Mother country),
United Kingdom. Venezuela.
Lithuania. Italy.
Egypt. Hungary.
Denmark, Germany.
Persia.

7. Mr. WILLIAMS

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government has yet replied to the questionnaire on the private manufacture of arms issued by Mr. Arthur Henderson, president of the Disarmament Conference; and, if so, whether the reply can be published?

Mr. BALDWIN

Yes, Sir. The reply of His Majesty's Government was sent to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations on the 30th December last. The reply has been circulated with others to all delegations of States represented at the Disarmament Conference and will doubtless be published by the League of Nations in due course. In the circumstances His Majesty's Government do not consider that they would be justified in incurring the expense entailed in publishing the reply in this country, but I am ready, if the hon. Member so desires, to have a copy of the reply placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. WILLIAMS

I would thank the right hon. Gentleman for the latter part of that reply.