HC Deb 30 October 1934 vol 293 cc28-9
56. Mr. MANDER

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present position of the Disarmament Conference; and what progress has been made with the work of the Air Committee?

57. Mr. T. SMITH

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he has any statement to make on the present position of the Disarmament Conference?

Mr. EDEN

When the General Commission of the Disarmament Conference adjourned in June it issued instructions to four committees and laid certain tasks on the Bureau of the Conference. The Bureau was called upon to co-ordinate the work of these committees; to seek, by whatever means it deemed appropriate and with a view to the general acceptance of a disarmament convention, a solution of the outstanding problems; and to take the necessary steps at the proper time to ensure that when the General Commission was again convened it would have before it as far as possible a complete draft convention.

The President of the Conference reviewed the situation in a letter of 12th September addressed to the members of the Bureau. The President expressed the opinion that the work entrusted to the Bureau under the resolution of the General Commission could best be undertaken following on the efforts to be made by the Governments to secure a solution of the outstanding political problems. The President took note of negotiations which were in progress or in contemplation, and stated that it seemed to him undesirable, while these efforts were being made, to convene the Bureau. He undertook to review the situation again before November.

In a further communication of 24th September, the President summarised the work of the committees which had been set up under the resolution of the General Commission. He stated, as regards the Air Committee, that the chairman of this committee was of opinion that pending negotiations between the principally interested Powers it would be preferable not to call a meeting of the committee for the moment.

Mr. MANDER

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information as to when the committee or the bureau are likely to meet?

Mr. EDEN

I cannot make any statement about that now.