§ 70. Mr. Manderasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the League of Nations Assembly resolution of 6th October expressing moral support for China and recommending that members of the League should refrain from taking any action which might have the effect of weakening China's power of resistance, and thus increasing her difficulties in the present conflict, he will arrange that no further licences for the export of arms to Japan shall be granted?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Viscount Cranborne)As my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade stated on Tuesday in reply to the hon. Member for Derby (Mr. Noel-Baker) only one licence for the export of arms to Japan has been issued in the last three months. While His Majesty's Government have every intention of continuing to give effect within the limits of their power to the resolution to which the hon. Member refers, the action which he suggests would involve difficulties particularly in connection with the Anglo-Japanese Commercial Treaty of 1911. The resolution in question does not absolve His Majesty's Government from their treaty obligations.
§ Mr. ManderCan the Noble Lord give an assurance that the Government are doing, and will do, everything possible to carry out the resolution of the Assembly?
§ Viscount CranborneI should be glad to give that assurance.