§ 13. Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has been in communication with the United States Government with regard to the date of the third Hague Conference; if so, has the year 1917 been suggested; and whether there is any reason for postponing the Conference beyond the year 1915?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Acland)The answer to the first part of this question is in the negative. As regards the second part, it will not be possible for the Conference to meet in 1915 because, according to one of the resolutions passed by the last Conference, an International Committee is to be set up two years in advance of the third Conference for the purpose of preparing the programme of work. This Committee has not yet been formed.
§ Sir W. BYLESWhose business is it to initiate the Committee? Cannot the British Government take the initiative?
§ Mr. ACLANDIt is difficult for the British Government to take the initiative, as they are not yet in a position to ratify what was done at the last Conference.
§ 14. Mr. BARNESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if it was agreed at the last Hague Conference between the Powers that some two years before the International Committee of preparation for the next Conference was appointed each Power should appoint a National Committee to prepare suggestions for the International Committee; and, seeing that, in pursuance of this agreement, a National Committee has been appointed by France, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and other Powers, will he say why Great Britain has not yet taken steps to appoint a Committee?
§ Mr. ACLANDNo such agreement as the hon. Member suggests was come to at the second Peace Conference. What the Conference recommended was the appointment of a preparatory International Committee. It was, however, found impossible at the time to arrive at an agreement as to how and by whom the Committee should be appointed. The difficulty still remains unsolved. When proposals for setting up the Committee reach His Majesty's Government they will receive every consideration. I have no official information as to the appointment of Government Committees in other countries. It is necessarily a matter for each Government to choose whatever method it may consider appropriate for settling and formulating its own views on any subject that could come up at the next Peace Conference.
§ Mr. BARNESHas any step been taken by our own Government to appoint this National Committee? Further, does the hon. Gentleman suggest that the information about the other Powers is not obtainable?
§ Mr. ACLANDI have already told the hon. Gentleman what we know about other Powers, which is nothing. In regard to what we are doing, I think the position is still somewhat the same as was stated in answer to the hon. Gentleman on the 6th August last, namely, that we would be able to give our attention to the matter when affairs in the Near East had settled down.
§ Mr. BARNESHas nothing been done since August last, especially having regard to the fact that affairs in the Near East have long since settled down?
§ Mr. ACLANDI do not think that the Office has been able to take steps yet. As a matter of fact, the consideration of matters for a new Conference requires a great deal of work, and we have not yet been able to give that attention to it.
§ Sir W. BYLESAre the House and the country informed that the British Government have taken no steps whatever towards initiating an International Conference?
§ Mr. ACLANDWe do find it difficult to initiate proceedings for the next Conference, considering that this country, owing to the failure to pass the Naval Prize Bill, has not been able to ratify what was decided at the last Conference.
§ Mr. BARNESHas the Government not taken any steps to appoint our own National Committee, which must be done irrespective of what other people are doing?
§ Mr. ACLANDNo. We promised last year that as soon as the questions concerning the Near East were cleared up we would give our attention to the matter.