HOUSE OF COMMONS

Evening Star, Issue 21633, 31 January 1934, Page 7

HOUSE OF COMMONS

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS

VARIOUS SUBJECTS DEALT WITIT

(British Official Wireless.) Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright,

RUGBY, January 29. Replying to a question in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister (Mr Ramsay MacDonald) said he was aware of the decisions announced by the Soviet, United States; Belgian, Swiss, and Japanese Governments to strengthen their air forces forthwith. The British Government was fully alive to the importance of air power to Britain, and to the present relative inferiority of the Royal Air Force in terms of first line strength. The Government made it its earnest endeavour to secure parity for, the principal air forces at the lowest level on which international agreement might be secured. On the subject of the Anglo-Russian negotiations for a" new temporary trade agreement the Secretary tor Overseas Trade (Major D. J. Colville) said that many. difficulties had been removed. Questioned with regard to the Lena goldfields, he said an intimation had been received from the Soviet Government that if the .company were to inform the Concessions Committee that it had not been able to accept the former offer made to it, but was ready to resume negotiations, the committee would respond favourably. It had been added that the mere fact of the resumption of negotiations would indicate mutual amendment of the terms. The British Government accordingly advised the company to address to the Concessions Committee a letter proposing to send representatives to Moscow tp discuss the claim, on the understanding that the terms would be materially amended on both sides. The company adopted this course. Replying to a question with regard to recent events in China, Sir John Simon referred to the successful conclusion of the action taken by the Chinese National Government against the insurrectionary regime set up in Fukien, and expressed appreciation of the friendly way in which the Chinese Government received the representations of the British representatives in China as to the protection of British lives and property during the operations. The Minister for Transport (Mr Oliver Stanley) announced that the Government was gravely concerned at the recent published returns of road accidents, and would introduce legislation to deal with the subject at an early date.