§ 56. Mr. MANDERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any application for licences to export arms to Bolivia and Paraguay, during the period of the present hostilities, have been refused?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo, Sir.
§ Mr. MANDERIn view of the fact that on seven occasions during the last four years export licences for arms were refused on grounds of public policy, could they not be suitably refused in this case, in order to prevent the carrying on of this war? Would not this be a very suitable occasion on which to intervene on grounds of public policy?
§ 73. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what occasions, in public or in private, proposals have been made by this or other countries at Geneva for a general embargo on exports of arms to countries at war, including Bolivia and Paraquay; and whether be will press publicly at the present meeting of the Council of the League for immediate action on these lines?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir John Simon)As regards the first part of this question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply returned yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for West Leeds (Mr. V. Adams), in regard to the question of an embargo on the export of arms to Bolivia and Paraguay, which are the only two countries now in state of war. As regards the second part, the answer is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. MANDERHas the right hon. Gentleman any recent information as to the attitude of the United States Government upon this matter?
§ Sir J. SIMONNo, Sir, I have no information more recent than that which I have given to the House.
§ Mr. HANNONWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether, in point of fact, any arms have been sent out to Bolivia and Paraguay during the progress of the war?
§ Sir J. SIMONI believe that an answer was given by the President of the Board of Trade the other day which contained a table and which, so far as I could see, did show that very insignificant quantities, but still some quantities, had gone to Bolivia and Paraguay.
§ Major Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIRWill the right hon. Gentleman give the House his assurance that the Government will use all their powers, and that he will use all his influence at Geneva, to stop this revolting traffic?
§ Sir J. SIMONIf the right hon. and gallant Gentleman will be good enough to look at the second part of the question on the Paper and the answer which I gave, he will see that the answer to his question is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. LEWIS JONESIs it not a fact that the Lord Privy Seal only this morning has made a proposal at Geneva on behalf of the British Government for the acceptance of other nations for the prohibition of arms to Bolivia and Paraguay?
§ Sir J. SIMONYes, that is so.