HC Deb 16 March 1911 vol 22 cc2448-9
Earl WINTERTON

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any scheme, supported by His Majesty's Government, for the reference of all international disputes to arbitration has been submitted to the Governments of the self-governing Dominions of the Empire; and, if so, whether he will lay their several answers upon the Table of the House?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Harcourt)

No, Sir, I may refer to the answer just given to the hon. Member for Rutland (Mr. Gretton).

Earl WINTERTON

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can state that these proposals will be submitted to the Governments in question before any further effect is given to them by His Majesty's Government?

Mr. HARCOURT

I shall want notice of that.

Mr. HAMILTON BENN

asked (1) when the documents and papers which the Government propose to circulate among the members of the Imperial Conference will be issued; and (2) if the Secretary of State will publish as a Parliamentary Paper the full correspondence which has taken place with the Governments of the Dominions regarding the subjects which they wish to discuss at the Imperial Conference?

Mr. HARCOURT

Papers and memoranda respecting the greater part of the subjects proposed for discussion have been already circulated to the Dominions. These are, however, Conference papers, and it will be for the Conference itself to settle how far they should eventually be published in a complete form. Practically all general correspondence of substance with the Dominions as to their resolutions has already been published in the Blue Book Cd. 5,513.

Mr. HAMILTON BENN

Is it the fact that at the last Conference several Members of it said they were unable to read all the papers which were put upon them at the last moment?

Mr. HARCOURT

Yes; I hope that very few papers will be put upon them at the last moment.