ARMS TRAFFIC. (Hansard, 29 March 1933)

§ 1. Mr. MANDER
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now able to state, in connection with the Government's negotiations for an arms embargo on both aggressor and victim or on aggressor alone, the respective positions taken up by the various countries consulted?

§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Eden)
I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend on the 21st March.

§ Mr. MANDER
Is it not the fact that the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate have unanimously asked for an embargo on the aggressor alone?

§ 2. Mr. RHYS DAVIES
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress is being made towards an international agreement on the subject of an armaments embargo against Japan?

§ Mr. EDEN
The Advisory Committee of the League of Nations which was set up to follow the developments of the Sino-Japanese dispute decided to set up a sub-committee to examine the problem of the export of arms in relation to the present conditions in the Far East. I understand that the Advisory Committee met again at Geneva yesterday. I am informed that at this meeting attention was drawn to the fact that inquiries were already under way in connection with disputes in another part of the world in the course of which specific questions of principle and of execution have been put before the Governments. It was agreed that the members of the committee should consult their Governments on these questions in order that the subcommittee might be in possession of the essential facts as soon as possible.

§ Sir PERCY HARRIS
Can the Under-Secretary say when a decision is expected from this Committee; or when any report is expected?

§ Mr. EDEN
The hon. Member must not expect me to tell him what an international Committee will do.

§ Mr. DAVIES
May we take it for granted that the Government will bear in mind the changed conditions consequent upon the notice given by Japan to leave the League of Nations?

§ 25. Mr. MANDER
asked the President of the Board of Trade what orders were notified for munitions of war from Japan during the recent embargo and since; from what date the embargo ceased to operate; and whether any undertaking has been given by the Government to assist those supplying arms to Japan to obtain payment?

§ Lieut.-Colonel JOHN COLVILLE (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)
As regards the first part of the question, I would refer to the reply given to a similar question put by the hon. Member for West Leeds (Mr. V. Adams) on March 8th; the date asked for in the second part is March 13th; the answer to the last part is in the negative.