§ 5. Mr. Morgan Jonesasked the Prime Minister what steps have been taken by His Majesty's Government to give effect to the unanimous Resolution of the House on 2nd February, 1938, with regard to the question of international agreement for the limitation of aerial bombing?
§ Mr. ButlerAs the House was informed, this question is being most carefully studied by the Government Departments concerned, with a view to overcoming the many technical and legal difficulties involved, but it has not yet reached a form in which it can advantageously be submitted to other Governments. At the same time His Majesty's Government have not failed to make clear their views about the bombardment of civilian populations and have approached the French Government and the Vatican.
§ Mr. JonesMight I ask the Prime Minister personally whether he will answer this question: Is it not a fact that this was a decision of the House of Commons, arrived at very largely at the invitation of the then Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and would the right hon. Gentleman not, therefore, inform the House whether the Government are prepared to do something, apart from merely studying the matter? I suggest that the Government must have studied the matter before the answer was given by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Can the right hon. Gentleman not give an assurance that something will be done immediately, if possible, on this point, by agreement among other foreign Governments?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. The hon. Gentleman is aware that what is desired is an international agreement. It is no use putting forward crude and unthought-out proposals to other Governments. The matter is one which gives rise to very great difficulties; for example, in distinguishing between the objectives which are aimed at. What we are trying to do is to get this proposition into such a form as to have some hope of acceptance by other Governments.
§ Mr. JonesHas the Prime Minister taken any steps at all, with a view to inviting other Powers to come to a conference to discuss the proposals both of our Government and other Governments, rather than wait for us to argue and think out proposals before linking up with other Governments?
§ The Prime MinisterFrom the practical point of view it would be advantageous if we could find some scheme that, on the face of it, would be workable. That is what we are trying to do, and when we have succeeded in that, we should be in a position to invite other Governments.