§ 1. Mr. GODFREY LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will invite the Governments of the United States, Japan, Germany, Italy, France and Russia to collaborate with His Majesty's Government in the examination of the question of the reform of the League of Nations, with a view to recommendations being placed before the League at Geneva?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir John Simon)I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to my right hon. Friend on the 29th January last, in reply to a similar question.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIf any such consultations take place, will the right hon. Gentleman confine the conversations to the free States and leave out the slave States?
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONIn view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman told us the other day that he was taking the opinions of the French and Italian Governments on the question of the priority of disarmament over reform, will he also make inquiries of the other nations and take their opinions?
§ Sir J. SIMONI can add nothing by way of answer to a supplementary question on this matter. The right hon. Gentleman's proposal obviously involves a very large issue, as is shown by the names of the Governments he mentioned, and I do not think that I can be expected to give a reply to the supplementary question.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI do not want to press my right hon. Friend unduly, but why did he pick out two of the great Powers and not consult the others?
§ Mr. MANDERIs not the present machinery of the League of Nations reasonably satisfactory if worked with good will by all parties?
§ 47. Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider appointing a committee to assist the Government in formulating a scheme for the reform of the League of Nations?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)No, Sir. I do not think it necessary.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONMay I, with great respect, ask the Prime Minister whether he realises that we shall never get general disarmament until all the great Powers are in the League of Nations, and that they will never enter the League while the League remains un-reformed?
§ Mr. PIKEIs the Prime Minister aware that the vast majority of the people in the country at the moment consider it to be more necessary that the Government should formulate a scheme with the intention of ultimately chloroforming the League of Nations?