§ 46. Captain P. MACDONALDasked the Prime Minister who will be the British representatives at the proposed staff talks between this country and France and Belgium; whether the Italian Government is expected to participate; what will be the nature of the discussions; and whether it is possible to postpone this conference until negotiations with Germany have further advanced?
The PRIME MINSTERAs regards the first part of the question, this matter is still under consideration. As regards the second part, the conversations in which His Majesty's Government have agreed that their staffs shall participate will be with the staffs of France and Belgium. His Majesty's Government have 2122 no information as to whether the Italian Government propose to hold similar conversations with France and Belgium. As regards the third part, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the passage in the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the course of last Thursday's Debate which had reference to this matter. As regards the last part of the question, the conversations at present under discussion will, as my right hon. Friend explained in that statement, relate to the immediate situation pending negotiations. His Majesty's Government cannot agree to the postponement of these conversations, which they regard as an essential element in the restoration of confidence which is necessary for the success of these negotiations.
§ Captain MACDONALDWill the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance that when those conversations take place they will be kept strictly under Cabinet supervision, that they will be entirely for defensive purposes, and not for the purpose of waging war on Germany, as suggested by the right hon. Member for Carnarvon Boroughs (Mr. Lloyd George) in the "Times" of to-day?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn regard to the first part of the supplementary question, of course that will be the case. We shall have strict control over the conversations. The latter part of his suggestion is fantastic.
Mr. DAVIDSONCan we have an assurance from the Prime Minister that representatives from an already declared aggressor State shall not take part in these conversations?
§ 53. Lieut. - Commander FLETCHERasked the Prime Minister whether it will be made a condition of any conversations which may take place between the general staffs of the Locarno Powers that an agreed memorandum of the proceedings shall be drawn up and signed by the senior representatives at the conversations, so that no misunderstanding may subsequently arise as to what the conversations commit us to?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think that the hon. and gallant Member may rest assured that His Majesty's Government will take all precautions which seem necessary to them.
§ Lieut.-Commander FLETCHERWill the agenda for these conversations be drawn up by the Cabinet or by the General Staff?
§ The PRIME MINISTERPerhaps the hon. and gallant Member will put that question down.
§ 54. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Prime Minister whether, during the proposed discussion between military officers representing France, Belgium, Italy and Great Britain, the Royal Air Force will be represented and discussions take place as to the use of the air forces of the Allies and a decision taken as to the use of bombing machines and poison-gas bombs against the civilian population of an enemy country?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn the proposed conversations between military staffs, the Air Staff will take its part. As regards the latter part of the question, the right hon. Gentleman will be aware of the limited nature of these conversations, which was explained by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in his statement in the course of last Thursday's Debate. In any case, His Majesty's Government will, of course, hold themselves bound in all circumstances to observe the Geneva Protocol of 1925, of which they were a signatory, with regard to the use of poison gas.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that our own Government and other Governments reserve the right to use poison gas and bombs providing some other nation is using them? It is to those circumstances that my question refers. I am quite aware of the Geneva Pact. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask the Prime Minister to give me an answer to the question I have just put. There is a reservation in regard to the Geneva Pact, and that is that in certain circumstances poison gas will be used by this country?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid I am not quite clear what it is the right hon. Gentleman wishes to ask me. I do not see how the question which he has in his mind can possibly arise at the present moment. The question of the use of poison gases is, I agree with him, one of the most alarming questions the whole world has before it to-day, and I have in 2124 my own mind hopes t hat if we are successful in bringing together the proper nations in regard to these proposals, which have just come from Germany, that is one of the points that will be dealt with, and possibly settled.