QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1930, Page 2

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

THE FIUNCO-ITALIAN NAVAL

POSITION.

(Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, Juno IS

Replying in the House of Commons to a series of questions, Mr Arthur Henderson. Foreign Secretary, said that, while no Fra neo-British negotiations' on naval armament had taken place since the adjournment of Hie Loudon Naval Conference the subject had naturally come up m conversation with the French and Italian Foreign Ministers during his recent visit to Geneva.

As regarded the proposal made in the questions for the suspension of naval shipbuilding, he referred members to the conciliatory offer of the Italian Government to suspend, while the negotiations for which the Naval Conference was adjourned were proceeding, the laying down of any units of their 1930 general programme, provided similar action was taken by the French Government. THE VATICAN AND MALTA.

The Prime Minister was asked whether th 0 Government was proposing to take any action to mark its dissatisfaction with the attitude of the Vatican in connection with Maltese affairs.

He said that the Government was. perfectly prepared, so far as its rela-' tions with the Vatican were concerned, f;o leave the matter-where it was. I 1 EGYPTIAN TREATY. Mr. Arthur .Henderson stated that no rfepresentations regarding the reopening of tlie discussion had been made by the 'Egyptian' GoVernment. The ■{H.'igli 'Commissioner in. Egypt, si nee ) his return to Cairo, bad naturally resumed contact with the Egyptian Prime Minister and had reported that tli e desire of the Egyptian Govenij'ment to reach an agreement with the British Government was not diminished. Asked whether it was intended to leave the offer open indefinitely Mr Henderson answered in the negative, adding that up till then the Government had thought it was test to leave it where they loft it at the close of the recent negotiations..

Replying to a further question Air Henderson said 'that there was no need .for the British Government to make! a further offer of negotiations. He had made, it clear that the treaty was there w’lieii ‘ the Egyptians were prepared to accept it.