Mr Arthur Henderson: I received yesterday the letter to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. I shall, of course, give full consideration to the proposals put forward in that letter, but it would be premature to say, on the day after its receipt, what course of action it may appear desirable to take in the questions which it raises.
Mr Arthur Henderson: I have received a report of certain disorders which occurred last month at Vienna University, but, so far as I am aware, have not been repeated. The authorities seem to have been successful in restoring order, and I have no reason to suppose that the matter will be brought before the League of Nations.
Mr Arthur Henderson: Since the civil war ended nine months ago, the general military situation in North China has been quiet. It does not appear that disbandment has yet made much progress.
Mr Arthur Henderson: No, I have not.
Mr Arthur Henderson: Only six States, namely, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, San Salvador and Uruguay, out of the 66 which were invited by the Government of the United States to accede to the Treaty for the Renunciation of War, have not yet done so. In the case of Bolivia, although on the 11th of October, 1928, the Cabinet Council passed a resolution accepting the Treaty, and the United States Government...
Mr Arthur Henderson: I think not. I have not seen any.
Mr Arthur Henderson: With regard to the French Mixed Court at Shanghai, the negotiations have not yet resulted in a final agreement. I understand that the Chinese Government are taking steps to prepare for the organisation of special chambers for the trial of cases involving foreigners.
Mr Arthur Henderson: I fail to see what serious state of affairs the right hon. Gentleman has in mind.
Mr Arthur Henderson: Yes, but that does not create a serious state of affairs.
Mr Arthur Henderson: I regret that no agreement has yet been reached regarding the scope of the work of sub-committee A. As regards sub-committee B, there has been no development since the reply given to the hon. Member on Monday last.
Mr Arthur Henderson: I gave the hon. Member an answer last week in regard to one of the Sub-Committees, and I referred him to that answer to-day. I should only be repeating myself.
Mr Arthur Henderson: I do not want that statement to go unchallenged. I have said that I am at present awaiting the report from the British Members of the main Committee.
Mr Arthur Henderson: Does the hon. and gallant Member challenge the statement of the First Lord of the Admiralty? The First Lord was reporting upon a conference at which he had been present along with me, both in Paris and in Rome, and he reported that complete agreement had been reached at the conference. The members of the conference had to report to their respective Parliaments just as we had to report to the...
Mr Arthur Henderson: I am at present awaiting a report from the British members of the main committee on the position in subcommittee B. I am informed that subcommittee C met on 9th June in order to examine a general memorandum on the British claims. This examination has not yet been completed.
Mr Arthur Henderson: I am afraid any interim statement would not assist us in the matter. I am pressing an examination of the matter as much as I can.
Mr Arthur Henderson: Steady progress is being made with the work on the new League of Nations building. If my hon. Friend desires further details, I will send him a copy of the report issued last month by the Building Committee to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations.
Mr Arthur Henderson: I believe so. The building is proceeding, and I suppose it is proceeding according to the plans.
Mr Arthur Henderson: I think I must have notice of that question.
Mr Arthur Henderson: Only three claims have been made through the Foreign Office. Particulars of these have already been given in answer to questions by the hon. Member for Finchley (Mr. Cadogan) on the 20th of May, and the hon. Member for Hallam (Mr. L. Smith) on the 12th of June.
Mr Arthur Henderson: Yes, I think so.
