§ 44. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the amendments of the British Government to the proposals of the United States of America Government at the Traffic in Arms Commission at Geneva have now been handed in there; whether they can be made available to Members of the House; and whether the Government are prepared to consider the advisability of withdrawing their objection to international inspection of armament factories?
§ The LORD PRIVY SEAL (Mr. Eden)The amendments which the United Kingdom delegation are proposing, together with amendments by other delegations, are being submitted to the appropriate sub-committees which the full committee has appointed. The meetings of these sub-committees are by general agreement being held in private, and their proceedings, including the amendments handed in by the different delegations, are not therefore public documents. In any event I doubt whether these amendments would be intelligible as they stand, without the oral explanations by which they will be accompanied. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Islington East (Miss Cazalet) yesterday.
§ Mr. MANDERIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the adjournment at the earliest possible moment.