§ 1. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Chaco Committee of the Assembly of the League of Nations has obtained, or will obtain, information from the South American Governments who are not prepared to interfere with the transit of arms to Bolivia and Paraguay, while other Governments fail to keep arms from being exported, as to the quantity of arms allowed through in this way?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir John Simon)So far as I am aware the Chaco Committee has not recommended that this information should be asked for, but the whole question will no doubt be further considered when the Advisory Committee next meets.
§ Mr. MANDERWill my right hon. Friend be good enough to see that this suggestion is brought to the notice of the Chaco Committee?
§ Sir J. SIMONI will consider that. But I do not think, as a matter of fact, that it is yet known what is the answer of the South American Governments to which the hon. Gentleman refers.
§ 4. Mr. JOHN WILMOTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the committee established by the League of Nations to study the question of prohibiting, under the provisions of 324 the Covenant, the supply of war materials to belligerents has yet met; who has been nominated by His Majesty's Government to sit on the committee; and whether he can make any report on its work?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe committee in question has not yet met, and I am, therefore, not in a position to make any statement in regard to its work. Sir William Malkin, legal adviser to the Foreign Office, has been appointed by His Majesty's Government to serve on the committee.
§ Mr. WILMOTCan the right hon. Gentleman say when he expects that the first meeting will take place?
§ Sir J. SIMONI cannot give the date, but the first meeting will be convened by the Rapporteur of the Council after consultation with the Secretary-General of the League of Nations.
§ 6. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the reasons why the Government is opposing inspection of armament factories at the traffic in arms commission meeting now proceeding at Geneva?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe Committee on the Regulation and Control of the Private and State Manufacture of, and Trade in, Arms has met, in accordance with the decision of the Bureau of the Disarmament Conference on the 20th November, to pursue a limited objective and is not discussing proposals for the limitation of armaments, either qualitative or quantitative. His Majesty's Government consider that an elaborate system of permanent and automatic supervision, with local inspection, is not suitable for such a limited objective, but that, in order to achieve results, the machinery of supervision can and should be simplified without lessening its effectiveness as regards the immediate object in view. The United Kingdom Delegation at Geneva will submit in due. course proposals in this respect. As regards the attitude of His Majesty's Government to a system of permanent and automatic supervision in connection with a convention for the reduction and limitation of armaments, I would refer the hon. Member to the Memorandum on Disarmament issued by His Majesty's Government on the 29th January, 1934.
§ Mr. MANDERIs it not the fact that the American, French and other Governments are in favour of local inspection even for this limited purpose?
§ Sir J. SIMONI do not think that that is an entirely accurate statement. There is a general agreement as to the general scheme. The matter is now being considered in all its details. As far as I know, many Governments have got some suggestions to make, and it is even possible that the British Government may be able to improve on the American suggestion.
§ Mr. GRAHAM WHITEAre we to assume from the reply of the right hon. Gentleman that the Government are in favour of the proposal for inspection?
§ Sir J. SIMONI think that Lord Stanhope has already stated at Geneva the general support that we give to the general scheme of the American proposals.