§ 11. Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what occasions he has attended the Disarmament Conference since its inception; how long a time he has spent altogether at the Conference; what delegates represented His Majesty's Government at the meeting of the Bureau of the Conference on 9th November: what British representatives are on the committees set up by the Bureau; and what steps His Majesty's Government has taken or proposes to take to implement the decision of the General Commission at the end of October that the draft convention should be made ready for second reading by the General Commission that is to begin on 4th December?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe total time I have been out of the country during the last two years, in connection with the international work of my office, is 23½ weeks: much of the greater part of this time has been occupied with the Disarmament 497 Conference. I am unwilling to burden the OFFICIAL REPORT with a more detailed account of my peregrinations, but, if the hon. Gentleman wishes the date of each occasion, it shall be supplied to him. As regards the meeting of the Bureau on the 9th November, the hon. Gentleman will doubtless recall that this was after Parliament had reassembled, and just before the Opposition demanded a date for a Motion of Censure in respect of foreign affairs. His Majesty's Government were represented at Geneva by Mr. Cadogan, and, at the two Committees set up by the Bureau, by Mr. Strang, Brigadier-General Temperley, Major Robertson and Commander Bremner. So far as I know, no Cabinet Minister from any country attended any of these meetings. As regards the last part of the question, His Majestys' Government are in agreement with the recommendation of the Bureau, which I explained to the House on Friday last, that the General Commission should stand adjourned until January, to allow of parallel and supplementary efforts being made with a view to advancing, in every way possible, the work which lies before the General Commission.
§ 14. Mr. MORGAN JONESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that one of the questions still to be considered at the Disarmament Conference is the nature of the guarantee of execution to be attached to the Disarmament Convention; and whether His Majesty's Government will endeavour to secure the insertion in the convention of a clause forbidding the supply of arms or munitions or of the raw materials for making arms and munitions to any State found by the Permanent Disarmament Commission to be guilty of re-armament in defiance of the convention?
§ Sir J. SIMONVaious Governments have shown that they attach importance to this question, but no concrete proposals have yet been put forward. In present circumstances I am unable to make any further statement on the matter.
7. Mr. McKIE (for Mr. McGOVERN)asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of sittings held under the auspices of the Disarmament Conference at Geneva; the total amount of 498 expenses; and the total amount drawn by the chairman of the Conference from all sources?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe total number of sittings, including sub-committees, is 920. Of these 18 have been plenary meetings, 81 meetings of the General Commission, and 54 meetings of the Bureau. The total expenditure on the Conference from League funds is to date 1,024,505 Swiss francs. The total amount paid to the President from League funds is to date 73,271 Swiss francs. This does not include the cost of the President's secretarial staff and entertainment expenses.