§ MR. HAROLD COXI beg to ask the Prime Minister whether the obligation of this country to defend the self-governing Colonies has ever boon in any way defined by agreement or otherwise; and what is the reciprocal obligation which the Colonies have undertaken for the defence of the United Kingdom.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe obligation upon this country to defend the whole Empire is independent of any written agreement or treaty. No obligation on the part of the Colonies to participate in the defence of the United Kingdom has been made the subject of definition or of formal agreement. Judging from past experience, however, there seems to be no doubt that the Colonies recognise the obligations to assist in the defence of the Empire as a whole.