PARLIAMENT OF BRITAIN

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1929, Page 9

PARLIAMENT OF BRITAIN

LABOUR’S FOREIGN POLICY RELATIONS WITH THE SOVIET UNEMPLOYMENT SCHEME British Official Wireless. ■ Rugby, July 15. The Foreign Secretary, the Rt. Hon Arthur Henderson, announced in th< House of Commons to-day that an invitation for a responsible, representative of the Soviet Government to visit Lon; don in order to discuss the most expeditious procedure for reaching a settlement of outstanding questions Jiad beon\ sent to tli® Soviet Government through tho Norwegian Government. * Answering subsequent questions, the Prime Minister said the Government would lay on the ta'ble appropriate papers regarding the resumption of diplomatic relations with the Soviet Government as soon as possible, and the appropriate time would presumably be when the correspondence had reached some issue. He added: “Any conclusion that his Majesty’s Government may come to regarding recognition cannot become. effective until it has been' debated by the House.”

Mr. Henderson informed the House that no decision had yet been reached, as to where the reparations conference to be held in August would take place.

Replying to questions, Mr. Henderson said the former Government had indicated its intention of raising at the conference the question of restoration to Germany of the Saar Basin. That, however, was quite distinct from the two main problems with which the con» ference would be called upon to deal—* reparations and evacuation of.the Rhineland. ■ t

Negotiations were proceeding between the British and Chinese Governments for the conclusion of a full commercial treaty on the basis of reciprocity. Two experts had been appointed by either side, and were at present engaged in Shanghai in the examination of the British and Chinese drafts which were being used as the basis of the negotiations.

Mr. Arthur Ponsonby (Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Dominions), said he had received a telegram from Australia regarding the Imperial preference proposals, but a frank interchange of views would be impossible if the contents were communicated to the House.

Mr. W. R. Smith (Under-Secretary for the Board of Trade) said he 'had. received some communications respecting the United States tariff increase, but had not made representations. Answering a series of questions, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald intimated that he was willing to' grant an inquiry into Ministerial salaries if that were the general wish of the House.

The Conservatives would welcome an inquiry, said Mr. Stanley Baldwin. The House agreed to a resolution moved by Mr. A. Greenwood (Minister of Health) to prevent the lower subsidies under the Housing Acts taking effect before the Government elaborated a comprehensive slum clearing policy. Miss M. Bondfield (Minister of Labour) moved the second reading of the Unemployment Insurance Fund Bill, the effect of which will be to increase the. Exchequer contribution to one-third of the aggregate amount of contributions, the cost to the-Exchequer being £3,500,000.