§ 43. Mr. MORGAN JONESasked the Prime Minister whether he will make use of the offer of Senator Nye to allow the use of the documents produced in the United States of America arms inquiry for the investigation proposed by His Majesty's Government?
§ 44. Mr. MANDERasked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make with reference to the offer of Senator Nye to make available to the British Arms Inquiry Committee documentary evidence produced before the United States Senate Arms Inquiry Committee?
§ 42. Mr. A. BEVANasked the Prime Minister whether, in the forthcoming armaments inquiry, he will direct special investigation to be made into the letter sent by the Liège Gun-Makers' Association, 817 dated 5th December, 1924, to all gun-making countries, inviting them to send representatives to a congress to consider methods of dealing with their respective Governments, in view of the League of Nations proposed convention for the control of the international traffic in arms?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald)It will, of course, be for the body entrusted with the inquiry to conduct it in the way best calculated to discharge its task without interference from the Government.
§ Sir PERCY HARRISWhen is the committee to be appointed and when are we to be advised as to its constitution?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs quickly as possible. There are a good many obstacles in the way, but they are being overcome.
§ Mr. JONESDoes the Prime Minister think it advisable that the Government should indicate to the proposed Committee of Inquiry that it is desirable to utilise the information available in America in regard to the matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTERObviously, that would be most improper. The Government give the terms of reference and appoint the committee, in every member of which they ought to have confidence, and then allow the committee and chairman to conduct their business in the best way and to present their report.
§ Mr. JOHN WILMOTIn drawing up the terms of reference for the Committee of Inquiry, will the terms be drawn sufficiently wide to enable the committee to make use of the information if it be offered?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe scope of the inquiry was stated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the speech that he delivered here, I think, on 22nd November.
§ Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINIn relation to this matter, will the Prime Minister bear in mind the grave inconvenience which might arise if a Committee of Inquiry appointed by the Government of this country were considered as in any way the judges of evidence submitted to a senatorial inquiry of another country—to be judges 818 of the report which the senators may make in that inquiry?
§ Major Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIRMight not the information which the American inquiry will be able to put before the inquiry here be very useful?
§ Mr. WILMOTWill the Prime Minister be good enough to state that the terms of reference of the inquiry will be sufficiently broad to enable the committee to make use of this information if they so desire?
§ The PRIME MINISTERObviously, I cannot say anything on that point. This committee is to be appointed and made up of gentlemen in whom the Government have complete confidence, or it had better not be appointed at all. The point referred to by my right hon. Friend the Member for West Birmingham (Sir A. Chamberlain) is, of course, a point that no Government can afford to overlook in considering the work that the committee has to do. The committee is to be appointed for the purpose of reporting upon and giving the country guidance regarding very important points that have been raised, and I am quite certain that, when we have finished our work and appointed the committee, the committee can very well be left to do their very best and to present a report that will be authoritative and accepted.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAre we to gather that the intention of the Government is that the inquiry should proceed on evidence and not on hearsay?
§ Sir P. HARRISCan we have the constitution of the committee before the Adjournment for Christmas?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot promise. I am doing my best to hurry it up, but I cannot promise to make a statement to the House on the subject before Friday.
§ Captain P. MACDONALDIs it not a fact that the right hon. Gentleman assured the House that the committee would deal only with future policy in this regard, and would not be a roving commission?