asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the yearly figure shown by the latest Chinese Maritime Customs returns of arms and munitions imported through the Customs at the Chinese treaty ports; and can he state from which countries these arms were shipped?

The most recent returns of the Chinese Maritime Customs show that the importation of arms and munitions of war through them in 1928 amounted to a total net value equivalent, at the average rate of exchange, to, roughly, £1,750,000. These figures do not include imports for sporting purposes or for individual self-defence. With my hon. Friend's permission, I will have the detailed particulars circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Have any recent protests been made by the British representatives in China with reference to the importation of arms?

Not that I have any knowledge of.

How does the right hon. Gentleman separate arms for individuals for self-defence and arms that are to be used against other people?

I am afraid I can only give the answer that has been provided for me.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give any information as to the position which has arisen owing to the Chinese Ministry of Railways having demanded payment from the Pekin-Mukden Railway of a portion of its revenue for local purposes; and what has been the result of the protests from the British Legation to the Chinese authorities in connection with this matter?

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Londonderry (Major Ross) last Monday.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information regarding the combined movement of the northern generals in China against Nanking; and whether the Kuominchun leaders have carried out any disbandment of their forces?

The most important commander in the North recently issued a manifesto calling on the head of the Chinese Government to resign his offices and leave the country. Warlike preparations are reported to have been made on both sides, but I have no report of any open hostilities, nor any definite information as to the attitude of other northern military commanders. There has, so far as my information shows, been no effective disbandment of the various military forces in China.

Is the League of Nations taking any part in trying to get these forces disbanded?

Not up to now.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Hankow authorities are in default in the payment of interest on the municipal debentures?

So far as I am aware, there is no default in the payment of interest on the debentures of the former British concession at Hankow, except in respect of the interest for the first half of 1927 which was paid in depreciated notes of the Hankow Central Bank.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has received any communications from British missionary societies in regard to extraterritorial privileges in China; and what is the purport of such communications'?

I have received no such communications; the second part of the question, therefore, does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the policy of His Majesty's Government towards the question of the Boxer Indemnity Fund?

His Majesty's Government are in negotiation with the Chinese Government for the return of the accumulated and future instalments of the Boxer indemnity to the Chinese Government on terms in harmony with the report of the Advisory Committee set up under the China Indemnity (Application) Act, 1925. A draft agreement has been reached between His Majesty's Minister and the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs for the consideration of both Governments, and I am at present awaiting the text.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress the Council of the League of Nations have made in the settlement of the differences between Poland and Lithuania with regard to Vilna and the frontier generally; and what the present position is?

A sub-committee constituted by the Advisory and Technical Committee of the League of Nations has been investigating the problem on the spot. Its Report will probably be ready for the consideration of the Committee when it meets in March, so that the final Report should be ready in time for the May session of the Council. Other outstanding questions have formed the subject of direct negotiations between the Polish and Lithuanian Governments.

Is it not a fact that the situation between the two countries is less feverish than it was six months ago?

I think that is so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is proposed to make any alteration in the Covenant of the League of Nations; and, if so, the nature of the proposed alterations?

A committee is now sitting at Geneva to report on the amendments necessary to bring the Covenant into harmony with the Pact of Paris. As regards the nature of the amendments proposed, those put forward by the British delegation were designed to eliminate from Articles 12 and 15 of the Covenant the so-called right of "private war" which they now allow.

Would any alteration made in tine Covenant be brought before both Houses of Parliament before it is ratified?

We have already undertaken to lay all these Treaties before both Houses, and, before ratification takes place, there will certainly be an opportunity given to this House.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think it would be possible to lay the instructions which have been issued to the British representative on the Committee?

I shall have to consider that matter.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether his predecessor published any of the instructions which he gave?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether all countries have now signed and ratified the International Opium Convention of 1925; and, if not, whether he will give the names of those abstaining?

Ratifications and definite accessions to this Convention have been deposited on behalf of 34 countries. There are 11 other countries on whose behalf signatures or accessions have been given but which still require, before they take effect, ratification or confirmation. Twenty-five countries have neither signed nor ratified nor acceded. I will, with the hon. and gallant Member's permission, circulate details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which States have now ratified the Gas Protocol?

The answer is rather long, and I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

In view of the fact that the Soviet Government is not a member of the League of Nations, has the right hon. Gentleman taken any steps to ascertain their views on the matter?

No, I have not taken any steps, but that hardly arises out of the question on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the epidemic of typhus at present raging in Russia, he will consider the advisability of discontinuing the issue of visas to Russian subjects?

His Majesty's Government have no information regarding the existence of any such epidemic beyond what has appeared in the Press, but I am asking His Majesty's Ambassador at Moscow for a report on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that, as officially stated in the Russian newspaper, Rul, of 11th February, 200 persons are to be sent to the Russian Commercial Commission in London, most of whom have been trained in a school of Communist propaganda; that among the qualifications necessary in the future for all members of commercial agencies will be the tenure of an active or reserve appointment in the red army; whether he will represent to the Russian Government the desirability of restricting the number of the proposed Russian staff in London; and whether His Majesty's Government will endeavour to ensure that these com- mercial agencies are used exclusively for trade and not for subversive propaganda?

The right hon. Gentleman appears to be under some misapprehension about any "official" statement. According to my information, the newspaper referred to is published outside the Soviet Union and is in opposition to the Soviet Government. Nothing has occurred to justify any representations to the Soviet Government on the lines suggested by the right hon. Gentleman in the latter part of his question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will take steps to ascertain from the Soviet Ambassador whether the Russian naval forces in the Black Sea have been recently augmented by ships transferred from the Baltic?

No, Sir. I see no need to make any inquiries of the nature indicated. It is common knowledge that two Soviet warships arrived recently in the Black Sea.

Does any augmentation of the number of Russian men of war in the Baltic and Black Sea, affect the naval forces of the other signatories to the Treaty of Lausanne?

I do not think that it is necessary for me to take any action.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any members of the British Embassy to Russia have yet visited any cities other than Moscow; and, if so, on how many occasions?

So far as I am aware, since their arrival in the Soviet Union, the members of the Embassy have been occupied at the seat of Government, but the movements of the staff of His Majesty's missions abroad are, as the hon. and gallant Member is well aware, within the discretion of His Majesty's Ambassadors and Ministers.

Will the right hon. Gentleman instruct our Ambassador to see that his staff goes into the outlying parts of Russia to investigate the question of religious persecution?

I have already said that the movement of the staff is at the discretion of the Ambassador.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any reason to suppose that there is any difficulty being put in the way of the members of the Embassy in Russia?

Would the right hon. Gentleman advise the staff to attend the Baptist chapels while in Russia?

I believe too much in religious liberty to make that interference.

Am I not right in thinking that the right hon. Gentleman also believes in religion?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there is any intention of transferring the Royal Naval School of Music from Eastney to Deal; and whether, seeing that the majority of the band boys are recruited locally, this fact will be taken into consideration before any decision is arrived at?

A proposal for the transfer of the Royal Naval School of Music from Eastney to Deal has been received and is being investigated. All the relevant factors will be taken into consideration before any decision is arrived at.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will bear in mind the position of dockyard employés concerned when the revised system of accounting and clocking are introduced in His Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, with a view to finding these employés alternative work?

This matter will certainly be borne in mind, as it was at Portsmouth when the revised system was introduced.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that the scheme of retiring allowances and gratuities to officers of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service makes no provision for officers who retired before the 1st July, 1929, and in view of the hardship many of these men are suffering, he can see his way to make the scheme retrospective in order to include those officers who fulfil the conditions but who retired before the 1st July, 1929?

I regret that it is not possible to vary the terms of the scheme as promulgated. In introducing a new scheme a limit must be fixed to the date to which it can be made retrospective and I am afraid that it is inevitable that some persons will thereby be ineligible to benefit.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Governor of Kenya Colony, in a speech to the Legislative Council on 14th May, 1928, promised to produce, in connection with the Estimates for 1929, a schedule, or schedules, proving that every penny of direct native taxation in Kenya is spent on direct native services in the native reserves; and whether he will give, for the past five years, figures showing the amount of such direct native taxation and the amount spent on direct native services in the native reserves, respectively?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Governor of Kenya has been requested to furnish the figures asked for, but these have not yet been received.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Chief Native Commissioner in Kenya stated to the Parliamentary Commission that only 25 per cent. of the taxes contributed by the natives was spent Uipon the natives?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether objection has been raised in the Legislative Council of Kenya to the passing of the Native Land Trust Bill, with the Amendments desired by the Secretary of State; and what action the Government proposes to take in the matter?

Yes, Sir. My Noble Friend is in communication with the Governor on the subject and I am not in a position to reply yet to the second part of the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that official representation has been refused to the heads of the Church of Scotland in Kenya on public occasions on the ground that the Secretary of State cannot grant the Church of Scotland the privilege of such representation, as it is a rule throughout the Empire that such representation be given to the Church of England only; and whether, seeing that there is no established church in the Colony, he will state on what grounds this differentiation is based?

My Noble Friend has no knowledge of the circumstances which have given rise to this question, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars the matter will be investigated. The suggestion in the question as to a rule confirming official representation of religious communities on public occasions to one denomination is not understood.

asked the Prime Minister, whether he intends to publish the memorandum on unemployment submitted to him by the First Commissioner of Works, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland.

No, Sir.

May we know whether this influential triumvirate have been converted to the Liberal solution for attacking unemployment?

If this memorandum is likely to help unemployment, what good purpose is served by keeping it secret?

The reason why Cabinets have secret documents, is that, if there were no secret documents, Cabinets would never do their work at all.

While I do not contest that view, is this a document which can of necessity be called secret? We want to help the unemployed. Why cannot the right hon. Gentleman give us this document, which is better than the policy of the Lord Privy Seal?

Has not the right hon. Gentleman discovered who gave this information concerning Cabinet secrets to the public Press?

asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons who were provided with employment by the Dundee Employment Exchange during the six months to 31st December, 3928; and the six months ended 31st December, 1929?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give facilities this Session for the Education (School Attendance) Bill?

I have nothing to add to the statement I made in answer to a question on the 30th January by the hon. Member for South-West Bethnal Green (Mr. Harris). Everything depends upon the state of public business.

Is the Prime Minister aware that, while the permanence of the present regimé is well understood in this House, there are a great many local edu

During the six months ended 31st December, 1928, 2,368 vacancies were filled by the Dundee Employment Exchange, and 2,968 during the six months ended 30th December, 1929.

asked the Minister of Labour the number of men and women who signed on at the Dundee Employment Exchange during the six months ended 31st December, 1928, and the six months ended 31st December, 1929, and who were refused unemployment benefit on the ground of not genuinely seeking work?

As the reply consists of a Table of figures, I will circulate it, if I may, in the OFFICIAL REPOET.

The House may depend upon me to do everything I possibly can to assure the local authorities one way or another, in the most effective way possible, that this Bill is going to be made an Act of Parliament.

Does the right hon. Gentleman know that he can always rely upon the support of the hon. Gentleman?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, if there is a Disolution we shall come back again upon these seats?

Will the right hon. Gentleman keep in mind that pupils at schools, if they do not get this Bill this Session, will be in grave doubt, whether or not, to train for teaching, and that that will aggravate the problem of the supply of teachers?

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that many education authorities are of opinion that maintenance grants for school children at 14 years of age should be provided exclusively from Exchequer funds; and will he favourably consider such a course on account of the poverty in many of the industrial and depressed areas in the country?

I am aware that some opinions have been expressed in favour of this course, but I am unable to adopt it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is in a position to make any statement regarding the committee recently appointed by the Mandates Com-mission of the League of Nations to inquire into matters affecting the Wailing Wall?

In accordance with the resolution adopted by the Council of the League of Nations in January, the members of the Commission in question will be appointed by His Majesty s Government with the approval of the Council. The constitution of the Commission is now under consideration.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the Commission will hear evidence?

I presume so, but the Terms of Reference have not been decided upon. They will be laid down along with the other conditions when the constitution of the Commission is decided.

Is not the Government proposing to lay down in the Terms of Reference requirements as to the taking of evidence?

His Majesty's Government will submit to the Council of the League the names proposed, and also the proposed Terms of Reference.

Will it be made clear, in drawing up the Terms of Reference, that the conditions of the Proclamation made in Palestine in regard to the status quo in connection with this matter, will be maintained?

I will take a note of what the hon. Member has said.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to state when the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the recent disturbances in Palestine will be published; and whether the evidence will be published at the same time?

I am not yet in a position to add anything to previous replies on this subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can give the numbers of Jews and Arabs that have been sentenced to death in Palestine for the riots of last summer; and whether any of the sentences have been commuted to imprisonment?

Two Jews have been sentenced to death by the Court of Criminal Assize, but according to my latest information their appeals have not yet been heard. Seventeen Arabs have been sentenced to death by the Court of Criminal Assize, and in all cases the sentence has been confirmed by the Court of Appeal. No death sentences have yet been confirmed or commuted by the High Commissioner.

Can the hon. Gentleman say that the reports that these sentences have been commuted to 15 years' imprisonment are untrue?

Yes, Sir. I understand the position is that a number of those convicted have applied for leave to appeal to the Privy Council, and in the meantime the question of commutation is left over.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether he will arrange that the Empire Marketing Board posters shall be designed to advertise products and objects which it is desired to bring to the notice of the public, in view of the fact that the present posters are more ornamental than useful?

I have been asked to reply. The board's posters are primarily designed to create a general background for the more specific advertisements undertaken by the Governments of various parts of the Empire, as well as by producers and others directly concerned in the sale of individual commodities. By way of illustration of the board's general theme of Empire buying, however, the posters have frequently drawn specific attention to particular products, which it is desired to bring to the notice of the public, and they will continue to do so within the limits of the board's general policy.

Does not the hon. Member consider that the mental and artistic side is rather overdone, to the detriment of the sale of the products?

I will mention that to my hon. Friend.

Is the hon. Member aware that the other day a poster appeared showing a tiger and a pineapple, raising the question whether tigers eat pineapples?

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity and value of raw wool, greasy and scoured, exported from and imported into all Dominions and foreign countries for which returns are available for each of the last three completed years?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to a similar question asked by him on the 11th February, which gave figures for 1925, 1926 and 1927. According to the latest volume of the "International Yearbook of Agricultural Statistics," published by the International Institute of Agriculture, Rome, the total imports of wool into 71 countries, British and foreign, amounted, in 1928, to 2,564.2 million lb., and the exports and re-exports to 2,477.1 million lb. This volume contains revised figures for 1927, the corresponding figures for imports being 2,710.6 million lb., and for exports and re-exports 2,606.1 million lb.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that total figures are of very little use in this connection, and that what are wanted are figures of one's individual competitors? Will the hon. Gentleman make an attempt to get the Department furnished with relevant figures as to trade, as heretofore?

I shall bear that suggestion in mind.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs what sum has been allocated by the Empire Marketing Board to the present campaign on behalf of home-grown potatoes respectively as Press advertising and other forms of publicity; and whether he can say what has been the response to the board's efforts in this direction?

It is not the normal practice to assign fixed sums from the Empire Marketing Board for the advertisement of particular commodities, and no such assignment has been made in respect of home-grown potatoes. It is not possible to make any estimate of direct results accruing from the publicity which the board have given to this subject, as it is part of their general scheme for promoting the marketing of Empire produce from home and overseas.

Does the hon. Member not think in the particular circumstances that he might do a little more on behalf of the Government to facilitate better publicity on these matters?

I will ask my right hon. Friend to consider that matter.

May I ask whether we are encouraging the Colonies to do for us what we are now doing for them in the way of advertising goods?

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will accede to the appeal made by farmers, landowners, smallholders and farm workers that importation of new, or luxury, potatoes be suspended pending investigation into the risk of diseases being introduced by them and in order that stocks of home-grown potatoes may be sold before they go to waste?

Prohibitions and restrictions on the importation of potatoes into this country have already been imposed under the Destructive Insects and Pests Acts where there is danger of the introduction of pests or diseases into this country, and in all cases where importation is allowed the potatoes are required to be accompanied by an official certificate of health. Prohibitions and restrictions on economic grounds are precluded by the International Convention for the Abolition of Import and Export Prohibitions and Restrictions, ratified by the late Government.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the list of diseases is increasing, and that unless suspension is made very soon the stocks of potatoes at home will go to waste?

I can assure the hon. Gentleman that we are constantly reviewing this matter and that the restrictions with regard to disease are very strictly adhered to.

When the right hon. Gentleman always refers to the acts of the late Government, is it because the present Government have no policy of their own?

The Convention was concluded by the late Government, and it cannot be dispensed with until June, 1931.

In view of the fact that the United States and Canada are keeping out British potatoes merely on the ground that there is danger of the importation of disease, has not the hon. Gentleman yet received sufficient indication that there is a positive danger of disease being introduced into this country by the importation of potatoes from France?

I have already said that we are continually investigating these cases and that the prohibitions are most strictly adhered to. If the hon. Member can tell me of any case, I will gladly go into it.

May I further ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the fact that other countries refuse to accept our clean health certificate with regard to potatoes, he will adopt the same course in the interest of the British producers?

When the right hon. Gentleman is considering this matter, will he—

May I have an answer to my question?

As far as other countries are concerned, of course it is for them to carry out their own undertakings. All that we are responsible for is carrying out our own.

In view of the terrible state of the potato industry in this country, does the right hon. Gentleman not think that it is time that we adopted the stringent measures against the foreigners which they are adopting against us?

I can only reply that our action in this matter is prescribed by the International Convention which was concluded by the last Government. As far as we are concerned, we have not, and cannot obtain, any freedom of action in this or kindred matters until June, 1931.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman, when he is considering this matter, to bear in mind that it is not only a question of the Convention, but of a great deal of employment which is given in the ports in connection with the importing of potatoes, and that very important business interests are involved?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion. Affairs whether it is the intention of the Empire Marketing Board to consider the recommendations contained in the Second Interim Report of the Pig Industry Council with a view to increasing the consumption of home-produced pig-meat?

The recommendations contained in the Report in question were addressed primarily to the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and not to the Empire Marketing Board. A substantial annual grant to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is provided out of the Empire Marketing Fund for the improvement of methods of marketing home produce, but the Empire Marketing; Board is not in general directly concerned with the carrying out of any recommendations to that end.