HC Deb 31 May 1933 vol 278 cc1857-9
2. Colonel WEDGWOOD

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the decision made at Geneva, on 22nd May, not to include the Nazi auxiliary police in the German effective quota had the support of His Majesty's Government; and, if so, on what grounds?

Sir J. SIMON

There is, I think, some misapprehension about this matter which I will try to remove. The Nazi auxiliary detachments have actually been included in the German effectives quota on the ground that they receive military training. The decision taken in the Effectives Committee on 22nd May was not a decision that they should not be so included, but was a decision that they should not be included in the special category of "militarised police." This decision was carried by eight votes to six with a number of abstentions. The grounds on which the United Kingdom representative voted for their exclusion from this special category were as follows:—(1) These auxiliary police did not conform to the criteria which had been agreed upon for computing police forces as effectives. (2) As these same detachments had already been included in the German effectives they could not be counted over again. (3) The German Chancellor had declared, and the German Delegation confirmed, that the enlistment of the Nazi detachments as auxiliary police was a temporary expedient to deal with a temporary emergency, that they were already being reduced, and would cease to operate as police by the end of the year.

5. Mr. COCKS

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information concerning the present situation regarding the fulfilment, or otherwise, by Germany of her obligations under the military clauses of the Treaty of Versailles, particularly in regard to the manufacture of heavy guns of a calibre not permitted by that Treaty?

Sir J. SIMON

There is no information that I can give the House on this subject.

Mr. COCKS

Does that mean that the right hon. Gentleman has no reports?

Sir J. SIMON

The hon. Member may rest assured that the Government are not losing sight of the question, but I must ask him to accept the answer that I have given.