§ 1. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give an assurance that the Government is no longer pledged to support the proposal for a four years' probationary period in the Disarmament Convention?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir John Simon)The hon. Gentleman's question is based on more misapprehensions than one. I have already explained to the House why the expression "probationary period" is unjustified. There has never been any pledge such as the hon. Gentleman imagines: the suggestions reported to the Bureau in October were put forward by several States for consideration, but nothing more. The hon. Gentleman will be aware, from the speech I made in the House last Friday, that the Bureau's decision is to work on other lines and His Majesty's Government concur in this view.
§ Mr. MANDERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the statement of M. Daladier in the French Chamber the other day that we were definitely pledged to a four year probationary period?
§ Sir J. SIMONI think the answer I have given will sufficiently explain the matter, but I should like to assure the hon. Member, in case there should be any misapprehension on the subject, that there is absolutely no difference between the French Government and ourselves.
§ Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many misapprehensions are in the hon. Member's mind?