§ 8. Sir Percy Harrisasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which country, after the ratification of the Geneva Poison Gas Protocol, 1925, was the first to start manufacturing gas for war purposes; and at what date this country started manufacturing it after its signature to this Protocol?
§ Mr. EdenI am unaware of any evidence, official or otherwise, upon which it would be possible to frame an answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question. As regards the second part, the answer is that small quantities have been manufactured for experiment in chemical defence ever since the War. The hon. Member will be aware that manufacture for this specific purpose is not forbidden by the Protocol.
§ Sir P. HarrisCould not the right hon. Gentleman say or find out which country took the initiative in manufacturing it for war purposes? There must have been some justification for this country manufacturing gas masks on a large scale. There must have been some cause for it.
§ Mr. EdenNo, Sir. I should say that if the nations had accepted our draft Disarmament Convention on this subject, we should all be in an infinitely better position.
§ Sir P. HarrisWhen did this country feel the necessity of preparing for production on a large scale both of gas masks and gas itself? There must have been some action of some country on some date in some year.
§ Mr. EdenI think we must all be conscious of the distressing fact that nations do not always attach the same importance to their signatures as they used to do.
§ Mr. SorensenDid not the right hon. Gentleman state that in fact we have no gas here except for purely experimental purposes on a small scale?
§ Mr. EdenI think the answer is quite clear. Perhaps if the hon. Member wants more details, he will ask the Department concerned.