8. Mr. VYVYAN ADAMSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has seen the report of the League Commission with respect to the dispute in progress between Bolivia and Paraguay, and in particular the statement that the weapons employed by both sides are imported from American and European countries; whether any arms and munitions have been exported during the last 12 months from this country to the belligerents; what is their total value; and if he will now withhold licences for such exports, whatever may be the activities of alien armament factories?
§ Mr. BALDWINMy right hon. Friend has seen a copy of the report of the League Commission which has been investigating the dispute between Bolivia and Paraguay and the statement that arms are imported into Bolivia and Paraguay both from America and from Europe. A table showing the value of the munitions exported from this country is being prepared by the Board of Trade, and will be sent to my hon. Friend as soon as it is completed.
As regards the last part of this question, I fear that no useful purpose would be served by action, on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend, since an embargo, to be effective, must be enforced at least by the principal arms manufacturing countries, several of which have not yet expressed their readiness to cooperate. As there seems to be some misapprehension on the subject I should like briefly to recapitulate the history of this particular proposal for an arms embargo :
It was on the initiative of His Majesty's Government that an exchange of views originally took place more than a year ago between the Governments of the United Kingdom, the United States, France and Italy, with a view to an agreement between them to prohibit the export of arms to Bolivia and Paraguay. Subsequently, His Majesty's Government, with the co-operation of the French Government, submitted a memorandum to the Council of the League on the 25th February, 1933, suggesting that steps should be taken under the terms of Article XI of the Covenant to recommend Governments to impose this embargo. A draft declaration to be signed by Governments in favour of this step was considered by the Council, and was accepted by all the States Members of the Council, including the United Kingdom. A number of States made their acceptance subject to acceptance of the delaration by a specified number of other States, including the United States of America. The Government of the latter country, however, stated that they were unable to impose an embargo until the necessary legislation has been passed by Congress, and no such legislation has been passed.
§ Sir PERCY HARRISAre we to infer from that statement that the cause of 1744 the failure is the refusal of the United States of America?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe House can draw its own conclusions.