HC Deb 09 March 1938 vol 332 cc1861-2
1. Mr. Arthur Henderson

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the economic distress of the Jewish population in Central Europe, His Majesty's Government will propose at the next meeting of the League Council that measures of international relief be taken, including the raising of an international loan for such purposes to be administered through the League of Nations?

The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Butler)

His Majesty's Government are fully alive to the circumstances referred to in the first part of the question, but do not consider that it would be possible or appropriate to take any such initiative.

Mr. Henderson

Does not humanitarian work of this kind meet with the approval of everybody, and are we not prepared to do it?

Mr. Butler

If the League are prepared to do it, that is different.

Sir Percy Harris

Could it not be put upon the agenda and discussed, not necessarily on these lines, so that we may have a chance to appreciate the merits of the whole problem?