§ 3. Mr. ANEURIN BEVANasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the view of His Majesty's Government that a Western air-pact must be accompanied by a system of mutual inspection or supervision?
§ Mr. EDENAs negotiations between the five Locarno Powers regarding an air pact have not yet begun, it would be preferable not to make any statement regarding the form which such a pact might take.
§ Mr. BEVANIs not the right hon. Gentleman able to indicate what the Government's attitude will be in the event of a pact being agreed upon? Would not some system of supervision be necessary in view of the secret arming which is admittedly going on, and in view of the fact that recently the Government have admitted complete ignorance of the extent to which European nations have already armed?
§ Mr. EDENIt is not a question of the Government being able to indicate its position; it is a question whether it is advisable or not.
§ Mr. BEVANAre we going to be faced, as usual, with an accomplished fact? Cannot we know what the Government's attitude is going to be?
§ Mr. MANDERHave not the Government made it clear that they attach the greatest importance to mutual inspection in any pact of this kind?
§ 4. Mr. BEVANasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the view of His Majesty's Government that limitation should be an indispensable feature of a Western air pact?
§ Mr. EDENMy right hon. Friend has nothing to add to the references made to this subject on behalf of the Government in the course of the Debates in this House on 2nd May and 31st May.
Mr. BBEVANAre we to understand that every pact which is now arranged with other nations must mean an increase of armaments and never a decrease?
§ Mr. EDENIf the hon. Member will look at the reference instead of making assumptions he will find it clearly set out by the Home Secretary that the Government do contemplate limitation as part of an air pact.