§ 45. Mr. BERNAYSasked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the problem of the private manufacture of armaments?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)As I pointed out in answer to the hon. Member for Bridgeton (Mr. Maxton) on 17th April, this question cannot be dealt with by the domestic legislation of one country alone, but would involve similar legislation passed and strictly applied also in other countries where armament factories exist. I would also refer in this connection to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central on 18th April, in which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary explained to the House a widespread source of misapprehension on this subject. I can see no useful purpose that would be served by the appointment of such a Commission at the present moment.
§ Mr. BERNAYSWhile thanking the Prime Minister for his answer, is he aware of the intense feeling there is in the country on this question of the private manufacture of armaments, and can he say that the Government are still pressing with all their power for an international agreement on the subject?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, we are still active in that direction and I would like it if the intense feeling to which the hon. Member referred were supplemented by intense thinking.
§ Lieut.-Commander AGNEWCan the right hon. Gentleman give the names of any countries which are at present considering domestic legislation of this character?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI know of none, but I will give the hon. and gallant Gentleman a more definite answer if he will put a question down.