HC Deb 31 October 1911 vol 30 cc701-2
Mr. MACKINDER

asked whether the States of the Australian Commonwealth, with the exception of South Australia, at their own desire, acceded to the Treaty with Italy of 1883, which His Majesty's Government is now seeking to abrogate on the ground that it contravenes the usual practice in negotiating such treaties; and in what respects it fails to comply with the conditions laid down by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in his speech at the Imperial Conference of 1911.

Mr. ACLAND

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, although the Italian Treaty of 1883 provides for the separate adhesion of the self-governing Dominions, it does not, as is the case in more recent commercial treaties, permit their separate withdrawal apart from the United Kingdom. It is in this respect that it fails to comply with the conditions laid down at the Imperial Conference. The hon. Member is mistaken in supposing that His Majesty's Government are now seeking to abrogate the Treaty; they are merely desirous of amending it in such a way as to give the Dominions that power of separate withdrawal which they enjoy in all recent commercial treaties.