§ MR. BOWLES (Lambeth, Norwood)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for 103 Foreign Affairs, in view of the approaching deliberations of an International Naval Conference on the laws of maritime warfare between representatives of this country and those of ten mainly military Powers, whether he can assure the House that this country shall not be committed to the acceptance of any alteration, modification, or new interpretation of any part of those laws except with the consent of Parliament.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYI cannot give any pledge except that any conclusions come to by the Conference on points of International Law will be laid before Parliament before it is asked to pass the legislation which will be necessary, as I understand, to enable His Majesty's Government to ratify the Prize Court Convention.
§ MR. BOWLESDoes the right hon. Gentleman wish the House to understand that, in certain conceivable circumstances, this country may find itself committed to a reduction of its maritime power without the knowledge or consent of Parliament?
§ SIR EDWARD GREYOf course all responsibility for executive action which does not require legislation rests with the Government.
§ MR. BOWLESI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the nine Powers which have accepted the invitation of His Majesty's Government to take part in the International Naval Conference, meeting in London on 1st December, are the only Powers to which such an invitation has been addressed; and, if not, can he say what other Powers were invited, and with what results in each case.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThe Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative.