asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state what the present position is as regards the D'Abernon trade agreement with the Argentine Republic?

The position is that this agreement is still awaiting legislative approval in Argentina.

Have the representatives of the present Argentine Government not declared publicly their intention to denounce it?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has received a reply from the Portuguese Government on the question of the discrimination against British shipping?

I regret that repeated representations to the Portuguese Government on the subject have, as yet, produced no official reply. On the 7th of August the Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Lisbon explained verbally to His Majesty's Ambassador that the question was in the hands of a technical committee. Since that date Sir Francis Lindley, in the hope of expediting the reply of the Portuguese Government, has discussed the matter informally with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who stated that the technical committee had not yet reported. His Majesty's Ambassador is fully alive to the importance of this question; and I am convinced that everything possible is being done to induce the Portuguese Government to modify their present attitude.

Would the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the possibility of denouncing our treaty of 1914 if things do not change?

I am afraid I cannot commit myself to such a course as that.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government intend opening up any fresh negotiations with the Chinese authorities for the revision of the existing tariff or other treaties and can he give the House particulars?

No negotiations regarding the tariff are proceeding, or are in contemplation. The only subject on which negotiations are now taking place is that of extra-territoriality. His Majesty's Minister at Peking made certain proposals to the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs on the 11th of September, but no reply has yet been received.

Can my right hon. Friend say whether anything is being done to facilitate getting a reply from the Chinese Government?

On the question of extra-territoriality negotiations are going On.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any suggestions for joint military action have been made by the British Government since they took office to the American and for Japanese Governments in regard to the disorders in China?

No suggestions for joint military action have been made, but His Majesty's Government have on two occasions during the past year consulted with the United States and Japanese Governments, and on one of these occasions with the French and Italian Governments also, regarding the protection of their respective nationals in China.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any recent report of any relaxation in the law in Soviet Russia in relation to religious teaching?

No, Sir. The position, so far as I am aware, remains the same as that described in my reply of the 2nd July last.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether that reply also refers to prohibition against teaching the Christian religion to young persons in Russia? Is that still in force, so far as he is aware?

I think that that is the purport of the reply I have given. The position is the same.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, as a result of the inquiries of the special committee, he has discussed with the Soviet Ambassador the question of the variation in the terms of the treaty with Soviet Russia, particularly as regards propaganda.; and if he will make a statement as to the position and intentions of the Government in relation to this aspect of the treaty?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, I do not at present contemplate entering upon negotiations for a modification of the terms of the notes exchanged in December, 1929.

But surely the right hon. Gentleman is not going to leave matters in the very serious condition in which they are? Surely he is going to take up with the Soviet Ambassador the important question of this very grave difference of opinion?

I have already reported to the House the position.

But I ask the right hon. Gentleman what he is going to do?

I am going to follow the example of my predecessors.

When the right hon. Gentleman is carrying on negotiations does he really know who constitute the Government of Russia?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a despatch from the Foreign Office in 1923 complained of the Soviet Government in September, 1922, equipping and despatching to India and other Eastern countries 62 Oriental students trained in propaganda schools under the Third International; and whether he has ascertained from our Ambassador if this practice has come to an end?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, I have made inquiries, but have been unable to obtain any definite information.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what date he first ascertained that the Russian Soviet Government repudiated the interpretation of the pledge as to propaganda given by the Soviet Ambassador on assuming office, as explained to the House of Commons by the Foreign Secretary when asking the House to approve the resumption of diplomatic relations with Russia?

I would refer the hon. Member to my speech in this House on the 5th of November last year, and to my answers to a very large number of questions last Session regarding propaganda, and he will nowhere find any statement by me to the effect that the Soviet Government accepted the interpretation which His Majesty's Government placed upon the pledge, namely, that it covers propaganda by the Third International. No question of repudiation, therefore, arises. I have, however, repeatedly made it plain that this is the interpretation which His Majesty's Government place upon it. I would, moreover, repeat the statement which I have already made on more than one occasion, that His Majesty's Government must be the judges, in the first instance, of the importance of any incident which may arise, and of the appropriate action, if any, to be taken.

Is it not a fact that the House approved of the resumption of diplomatic relations with Russia on the understanding that the assurance given by the Ambassador covered the Third International? When may the House have an opportunity of discussing the changed position

With regard to the first part of the supplementary question, that might be the opinion of the minority, but not of the large majority.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the nature of the communication from the Secretary-General of the League of Nations to the Governments of the Powers in regard to the passage of a Soviet Russian cruiser and two destroyers through the Dardanelles in violation of agreements; and what action is to be taken?

On the 9th of October, 1930, the Secretary-General of the League of Nations communicated to the members of the League and the Governments of the United States of America, Turkey and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics the text of a telegram from the President of the Straits Commission intimating that a cruiser and two destroyers of the Russian Black Sea fleet had entered the Mediterranean. As regards the second part of the question, no action is called for.

Does not this constitute a breach of treaty arrangements, and has that treaty became a scrap of paper?

No, I think not.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give the details of the several fluctuations, up and down, of the zone for promotion to commander in the last five years and the reasons for them; and whether he will reconsider the question of the lower limit for the promotion to commander, seeing that the limit is now three years and, as the seniority of lieutenant-commanders (ex-mates) on promotion is also approximately three years, they are only able to get one half-yearly recommendation forwarded after entering the zone, whereas, when the zone was two years, up to June, 1929, they could get three recommendations prior to promotion?

Up to June, 1925, the zone of promotion was 3–6i years. The Admiralty then considered it necessary to reduce the limits in order to allow of officers being promoted at a younger age. The limits were therefore reduced in three stages until they stood in December, 1926 at 2–6 years. In 1929 the Admiralty decided to raise the age again owing to the very large number of officers who were then coming into the zone who had received early promotion to lieutenant during the War. The limits were therefore raised to 2½—6½ years in December, 1929, and to 3–7 years in June, 1930. I am unable to understand the purport of the last part of the question. The zone of promotion has not been reduced in extent and officers are eligible for promotion throughout the period they remain within the zone. As my hon. Friend is aware, the whole question of the promotion of mates is being examined by a committee.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the average age of the lieutenant-commanders (ex-cadets) promoted to commanders during the last five years; and the number and ages of the lieutenant-commanders (ex-mates) in the zone for promotion to commander on 31st December next?

The average age of lieutenant-commanders (ex-cadet) on promotion to commander during the last live years was 35 years 4 months. The mean age of lieutenant-commanders (ex-cadet) who are in the zone for promotion is rather higher, say, just over 36. Twenty-five lieutenant-commanders (ex-mate) will be in the promotion zone on the 31st December next. Their ages on that date range from 41 years 11 months to 36 years 5 months, the average being 40 years 3½ months.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that girls have been appointed in Portsmouth Dockyard on machine operations at an inclusive rate of 12s. 2d. per week; and whether he will take steps to prevent the employment of girls at these rates of pay?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given him by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury yesterday (OFFICIAL REPORT, column 649).

Is the right. hon. Gentleman aware that in my question yesterday I asked whether steps would be taken to put a stop to this kind of sweating in a Government establishment, and that I got no answer from the Financial Secretary to the Treasury? In those circum- stances, yesterday's reply does not answer to-day's question, and will the hon. Gentleman now answer it?

It appears to me that this is a case that might well be brought to the attention of the Civil Service Commission.

In those circumstances, may I ask whether the hon. Gentleman will make it the business of his Department to make the strongest possible representations to the Treasury against a continuance of this kind of wage rate?

I suggest that it would he the duty of the hon. Member to make representations to the Royal Commission on behalf of those for whom he speaks.

As the head of a Department has a clear right to make representations to the Treasury, I should like to know if that right will be exercised in this case?

Will the hon. Gentleman say whether these girls are recognised; and, if not, by what union their case is to be presented to the Whitley Council?

On that point, I would refer the hon. Member to the hon. Member who put the original question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what has been the annual amount of money paid as pensions to retired naval officers during the years 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, and 1929?

I will, with my lion. Friend's permission, circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Why cannot the hon. Gentleman read to the House such a brief reply?

I have no objection to doing so, but there is a long table of figures, and I am trying to save the time of the House.

May I request the hon. Gentleman to read the reply?

the following is the reply?

The amounts paid to officers and warrant officers, etc., of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, in respect of retired pay for the years in question are:

In regard to the second figure given, may we know if the hon. Gentleman said 19s. 7d. or 17s. 9d.?

It is over £2,000,000 in any case—with all the unemployed.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the date of the last occasion on which the marriage allowance payable to married ratings was reviewed; and whether he is prepared to recommend any further alteration?

The marriage allowance system is constantly under review. The last alteration was the extension of payment in October, 1929, to statutorily adopted children. I am not aware of any alteration that ought to be made at the present time.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the question as to when the allowance was last reviewed and whether he himself will give the matter consideration?

I have said that it was last reviewed in 1929.

Did not the Financial Secretary inform the House that a committee had been appointed to inquire into this matter again; and have I not, repeatedly, asked when that committee was going to report and been told that it had not yet completed its inquiries?

I am not quite sure whether the hon. Member has read the question or not. It refers to married ratings.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the admiral superintendents of the Portsmouth and Devonport Dockyards have recently retired; if so, what pension has been accorded to them; and whether either of them are being retained in their old posts as civilians?

The reply to the first part of the question is that within the last thirteen months both of these officers, having reached the rank of vice-admiral without having flown their flags at sea, have been retired under the regulations. They have been retained in their posts in accordance with the policy of the Board, as in the interests of economy and efficiency it is undesirable that there should be too frequent changes in these appointments. Under the regulations governing the employment of retired officers they do not receive a pension, but the full pay of their rank, plus 15 per cent. as a set off to the fact that they do not count the time while so employed as pensionable service.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what are the numbers of naval officers of all grades who would normally be on half pay who are now in various administrative positions at the Admiralty and at naval centres?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Southampton (Mr. T. Lewis) on 2nd July (OFFICIAL REPORT, columns 1941–2).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the engineer manager at Chatham Dockyard is shortly to retire; if so, what pension will be accorded him; and is he to be retained in his old post as a civilian?

It is not anticipated that the engineer manager at Chatham Dockyard will be placed on the retired list in the near future; the other points raised in my hon. Friend's question do not therefore arise.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a serious state of discontent recently existed on board His Majesty's Ship "Revenge," to the extent that a number of the men made an insubordinate demonstration on shore against their captain who had inflicted punishments upon them; and what steps he is taking to deal with the situation?

I apologise to the House for the length of the answer, but this a rather important matter.

The statements to which my hon. Friend presumably refers proved on investigation to be wholly erroneous. I am satisfied that the state of discipline on board His Majesty's Ship "Revenge" is quite satisfactory and that the allegations against the Commanding Officer, Captain J. A- G. Troup, were unfounded. It is not true that he inflicted any unfair punishments, or that he was the subject of an improper demonstration on shore. I understand that the ship's company have been indignant at the wholly unjustified reflections which these statements have brought upon them.

It is to be regretted that certain newspapers did not print an official Admiralty announcement denying the allegations, but on the contrary, with the announcement in their possession at the time, published the unfounded statements.

Such a publication reflecting on the discipline of the Fleet is much to be deprecated. I would add that such rumours, when brought to the notice of the Admiralty. are always investigated immediately. The authentic information obtained is invariably communicated to the Press, and I hope that in future all newspapers will treat such information as fairly as the great majority of the Press did on this occasion.

What steps are being taken to deal with the "Daily Mail" and the "Daily Express," the papers that were responsible for these allegations?

I hope that the publicity given in this House to the question and answer to-day will be sufficient.

Can the hon. Gentleman give us a list of the papers which published this untrue information?

On a point of Order. Is the hon. Member who put the question entitled to put it in that form, in view of the categorical denial of the First Lord of the Admiralty of the allegations made?

On the point of Order. The explanation is that the question was based upon reports which I had read. 1 put in the question which, in accord with the advice of the Clerks at the Table, was placed on the Order Paper in ' the form in which it is to be found there.

If there is any fault to be found with the form of the question, I must bear the blame.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the nature of the labour conditions which are embodied in any contracts which have been entered into for the purchase of Soviet timber for the use of the Navy?

The only timber of Russian origin purchased by my Department consists of certain deals from Archangel. These are purchased from importers in Great Britain, and the contracts contain the usual fair wages clauses.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many vessels of the British and United States Navies, other than aircraft carriers, are capable of flying off aircraft and are at present fitted with suitable contrivances for this purpose?

Twenty-one British ships are equipped with flying-off facilities. Of these, five are equipped with catapults and 16 with flying-off platforms for light aircraft. The latter are regarded as obsolescent and steps are being taken to increase the number of ships fitted with catapults. Thirty-three United States warships are fitted with catapults suitable for launching aircraft, namely, 18 battleships, three of which will be scrapped under the London Treaty, and 15 cruisers.

Is the right hon. Gentleman making every effort to bring the British Navy up to date as regards modern requirements for flying-off aircraft?

I have said that we are trying to replace obsolescent flying-off decks on 16 ships by catapult arrangements, which might have been done long ago under the last Government.

Whether it be the right hon. Gentleman's fault or anybody else's, is he aware that we shall be rather behind the standard of other nations?

I think the hon. and gallant Gentleman must lay that charge to his own colleagues.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of ratings serving in the submarine service who were invalided during the year 1929 with ear trouble?

The answer is "three."

Can the hon. Gentleman say how many of those received pensions?

Not without notice.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the committee to inquire into the promotion of ratings through mate rank will consider the advisability of extending the mate scheme to ratings of the accountant and other branches?

This as well as all other aspects of the mate scheme will be reviewed in connection with the report of the committee.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, since Naval officers stationed at the Royal Naval wireless station arid Royal Naval rifle range on Stonecutter Island are paid Colonial allowance in addition to other allowances, whereas Naval ratings are not paid Colonial allowance, and, in view of the fact that living conditions are identical for officers and men, he will authorise the payment of Colonial allowance to Naval ratings borne for the wireless station and rifle range on Stonecutter Island, and to the ratings at the Aden W/T station where the conditions are similar?

Colonial allowance is only paid to Naval personnel serving ashore abroad in places where the cost of living and local conditions necessitate greater expense than is met by service issues in kind or the ordinary compensatory allowances. No representations have been received that the circumstances at Stonecutter Island are such as to require the payment of any additional allowance to Naval personnel.

Can the hon. Gentleman tell me why in that case extra is given to the officers and not to the men?

Not without notice.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if, in view of the recently published statement regarding the setting up of a committee to inquire into the question of candidates for officer ranks of the Royal Navy, he will state the terms of reference which are to guide the committee; and whether they include any suggestion of the abolition of the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to my reply of the 30th October (OFFICIAL REPORT, columns 216–218) to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Portsmouth (Captain W. G. Hall).

Can the right hon. Gentleman say that before any change is made in the present system of the entry of officers into the Service, this House will have an opportunity of debating the question?

I cannot undertake that, but we are setting up a very impartial committee, on which two very efficient admirals are sitting, with educational authorities, and the Board of Admiralty, I am sure, will give an impartial judgment when the report of the committee is received.

Will not this House have an opportunity of expressing its opinion on the findings of that committee before they are put into force?

The House will have the usual opportunities which are afforded on the Estimates.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the position as regards the projected pipe-line from Iraq to the Mediterranean and the proposed route?

I have been asked to reply to this question. I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply which I returned on Monday to the hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha).

Are His Majesty's Government intending to intervene in these negotiations, or are they to be concluded independently of His Majesty's Government?

I am not able to say whether His Majesty's Government will interfere as long as the negotiations are going on.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies when it is proposed to ratify the Iraq Treaty?

It is proposed to proceed to ratification as soon as possible when the King of Iraq is in a position to do so.

In view of the deep anxiety expressed by the Christian and Kurdish minorities in Northern Iraq, in the absence of any mention of safeguards in the Treaty, can my hon. Friend assure us that we shall have a full opportunity of discussing this Treaty in the House before ratification?

I would like to refer my hon. Friend to an answer given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer last Session, in which he said that if there was a general desire for such a discussion this Session, my right hon. Friend would agree.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government propose to take action to abolish the punishment of public exhibition in the stocks to which certain natives were sentenced in Nigeria recently?

No complaint has been received regarding this form of punishment, but the Governor is being consulted on the subject.

Will the hon. Gentleman take into account the point of view that the infliction of this particular kind of mediaeval punishment is hardly likely to add to the prestige of the Government in Nigeria?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he is aware that an ordinance, entitled the appointment and deposition of chiefs ordinance, has recently been enacted in Nigeria.; and whether the governor is required to consult His Majesty's Government in any way before exercising the far-reaching powers regarding Native chiefs and rulers?

With the approval of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, such an ordinance has recently been enacted in Nigeria. The Governor is not required to consult His Majesty's Government before exercising the powers conferred upon him under the ordinance, but he would doubtless, consult the Secretary of State in any particular case in which he might feel in need of guidance.

Does this ordinance provide any means of appeal against these Orders?

I must ask my hon. Friend to put that question down.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information about Prince Eshugbayi Eleko, of Lagos, who was deported five years ago to Oyo, in Nigeria; what provision has been made for him in exile; and whether the Government will issue instructions for his release?

Yes, Sir. The Secretary of State for the Colonies, has full information about the case in question. The matter was made the subject of an appeal to the Privy Council in 1927, and a further appeal to the Privy Council is now pending. The Secretary of State is unable to take any action in the matter while the case is still under consideration. I am informed that an allowance of £240 a year was paid to Eleko by the Nigeria Government up to the 30th of April, 1930, the allowance being then reduced to £120 a year to enable the Government to recover a sum of money which he owed them.

Was this Prince given any means of being heard against this Order?

I do not know whether the case is proceeding, or whether he is here or in Africa.

How was the scale of unemployment benefit arrived at for this gentleman?

Evidently he was better treated than the unemployed here.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any schemes for tine development of native areas in Kenya have been put forward in connection with the Colonial Development Fund; whether he can give the nature of the schemes, the districts concerned, the amount of cost in each case, and the total cost of such schemes; by whom these schemes were originally prepared; whether such applications were sent in to the committee appointed to deal with the fund; if so, what was the response given; and, if not, what were the reasons for the failure to send in the applications concerned?

A scheme prepared by the Government of Kenya for the establishment of a meat factory for the disposal of surplus stock culled from native reserves has been received. The application was for a direct grant of £60,000 and for a loan of £40,000, free of interest for 10 years, from the Colonial Development Fund. The application has not yet been submitted to the Colonial Development Advisory Committee as it is still under discussion between my Noble Friend and the Colonial Government. It is understood that the Colonial Government also has under consideration schemes for the development of agriculture and animal husbandry in native reserves, for the construction of roads and bridges in native areas, and for the fencing of a stock route from the Northern Frontier Province to railhead.

Have the schemes to which my hon. Friend has referred been submitted yet to the Colonial Development Advisory Committee?

I think I said in my answer that the scheme had not yet been submitted to the Colonial Development Advisory Committee, but that discussion was taking place between the Secretary of State and the Colonial Government.

Is the hon. Member aware that that relates only to the first big scheme, but that a large number of other local schemes were alluded to, and that I asked whether they would be submitted to the Advisory Committee?

I am not aware of the state of the negotiations or agreement on the other schemes mentioned in the second part of the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the memorandum on native policy in East Africa has yet been sent out to all administrative officers in Kenya; and whether any steps have been taken to bring it to the notice of the non-European populations in that Colony?

In view of the instructions mentioned in the foreword to the memorandum, my Noble Friend assumes that copies will have been supplied to administrative officers in all the East African Dependencies. No report of action taken to ensure wide publicity of the memorandum has been received, but there is no reason to suppose that the instructions in that sense will not have been complied with.

Have the representatives of the European population in East Africa made strong representations on this subject?

That is not part of this question. It may be the subject of another question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the orders recently issued in Kenya Colony under the Native Authority Ordinance, with regard to the collection of money in the reserves, have had the effect of preventing the collecting of money for many useful and desirable purposes; and Whether he will take steps to have the orders withdrawn?

No, Sir. My Noble Friend is satisfied that the instructions issued by the Government. of Kenya ensure that there will be no interference with the collection of money among natives in the reserves for any purpose which is not unlawful.