HC Deb 17 April 1934 vol 288 cc885-7
45. Mr. MAXTON

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the situation in many European countries, he will introduce legislation to forbid the sale of armaments abroad by British armament firms?

The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)

I am sure it is obvious to my hon. Friend that if his object is to promote disarmament and peace by such legislation, similar legislation would be needed and would have to be strictly applied in other countries also where armament factories exist. In this country certain powers to regulate export of arms exist, but there are no such powers and no such practice in most other countries, and our attempts to get international agreement upon the subject have not met with much support hitherto.

Mr. MAXTON

My purpose in putting the question is not to raise the general question of disarmament; the specific question that I put to the Prime Minister was whether he would do something to prevent British armament firms arming our potential enemies on the Continent?

The PRIME MINISTER

The point is that armaments dealt with in this way must have an object. The object is undoubtedly general disarmament and peace, and that can only be done by agreement.

Mr. HANNON

Has there come to my right hon. Friend's notice any particular case in which an armament firm in this country has taken action in foreign countries of the nature suggested in the question?

Mr. MAXTON

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there were British soldiers killed in the last War with British shells?

75. Mr. MANDER

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the failure of the efforts of the League of Nations' Commission to settle the dispute between Bolivia and Paraguay, he will consider the advisability of proposing at a public session of the Council of the League that every country should place an embargo on the export of arms to these two States?

The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Mr. Eden)

As my right hon. Friend stated in reply to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Morgan Jones) on the 27th November, it has proved impossible to obtain unconditional acceptance by all the Governments of the States members of the League Council of a form of declaration submitted to the council on the 8th March, 1933. The Commission appointed by the League of Nations to investigate the Bolivia-Paraguay dispute has now re- turned to Europe but has not yet presented its report, and it would not seem that any further action can usefully be taken until the recommendations of the Commission have been submitted.

Mr. MANDER

Is it not a fact that if the armament interests of the world as a whole were to cease to supply arms to these two blood-thirsty nations they would not go on fighting?

Mr. EDEN

That may be, but His Majesty's Government have already taken an initiative in this matter. It is not their fault if others do not follow.