§ MR. HILLS (Durham)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any précis of the proceedings of the Imperial Conference is being published in the Colonies; and, if so, whether it is being published officially.
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe daily précis issued by the Colonial Office is communicated to the Colonial Press Agencies with others for transmission to the Colonies. I am not aware that any other précisis being published there.
SIR GILBERT PARKERMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if the Government has taken into consideration whether it would not be wise for the Conference to employ its own officials for making the précis rather than employ the officials of the Colonial Office, over whom they have no control?
§ MR. CHURCHILLIf that question suggests that the officials of the Colonial Office who have been making the précis have not endeavoured to make a fair one, or that, having that intention, they have not been able to carry their intention out, I think the suggestion ought not to be made.
§ MR. J. WARDHas the right hon. Gentleman heard anything of complaints from the Colonial Premiers themselves?
§ MR. CHURCHILLNo, Sir.
§ MR. HAROLD COX (Preston)Who pays these officials?
§ MR. CHURCHILLThe whole cost is borne by us.
SIR GILBERT PARKERDoes not the Conference intend to make the official secretariat which is to be established responsible for the précis in future?
§ MR. CHURCHILLThat is a Question which I cannot refer to conveniently by Question and Answer across the floor of the House. No doubt at a later date, when the organisation of the secretariat 622 is completed, the House will desire some further statement.
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if the Imperial Conference has decided that its proceedings shall be published in in extenso.
§ MR. CHURCHILLAs will be seen by reference to the précis of 10th May, the Conference has decided to "publish its proceedings, subject to any necessary revision or omissions." It is expected that publication will take place at an early date.
§ SIR HOWARD VINCENTWhen will the Paper be laid on the Table? The Government proceedings relating to preference might be hurried on.
§ MR. CHURCHILLI will do my best to expedite the publication of these Papers. I should not think the delay would be very long, but, of course, it is necessary for the statements of each member of the Conference to be corrected. The preference portions of the discussion will certainly be published.
§ CAPTAIN CRAIG (Down, E.)Can it be arranged that in extenso reports shall be published and forwarded to the Colonial Premiers before they leave this country?
§ MR. CHURCHILLI do not think I can promise that. It depends on how long the Colonial Premiers stay.