§ 46. Mr. Manderasked the Prime Minister the present position with regard to the question of publicity of national defence expenditure, and the possibility of attaining general agreement on the draft convention on this subject drawn up by the competent sub-committee of the Disarmament Conference referred to in paragraph 19 of the statement relating to the Report of the Royal Commission on the Private Manufacture of and Trading in Arms, 1935–36?
§ The Prime MinisterIn accordance with the decision reached by the Bureau of the Disarmament Conference on 31st May last, the Governments which were or had been represented at the Conference were invited to inform the Secretariat of the League, before 1st September next, whether they are prepared, in principle, to accept a system of publicity based on the draft Convention referred to by the 2404 hon. Member. Until the replies have been received and considered it is difficult to estimate the possibility of attaining general agreement or; the draft Convention.
§ Mr. ManderIs not this one of the recommendations of the Royal Commission that the Government accept and on which they are anxious to secure agreement?
§ The Prime MinisterWe have said that we will accept the Convention if other Powers will do so.