§ 45 Mr. KINGasked the Prime Minister (1) whether, considering that the financial assistance being rendered by this country to her Allies is of the nature of exceptional grants, moneys required by the Treasury in this connection will be subject to the established rule that they are to be brought before Parliament either by a Resolution proposed in a Committee of the Whole House, appointed to sit on a future day for that purpose, or by the presentation of an Estimate; to what course he intends to ask the House to assent; (2) whether during the great European wars of 1793 to 1814 this House made grants of loans, subsidies, and munitions of war to its allies, and that these forms of assistance were granted by special Votes taken in Committee of Supply, and that the objects and recipients of such assistance were communicated to this House, which in each case voted the actual amount granted; whether, following these precedents and respecting the rights of this House, a similar course will be followed in connection with the assistance which this country is now furnishing to its Allies; and (3) whether in 1795 a loan of £4,600,000 was made by this country to its ally, the Emperor of Germany; that a Resolution was carried in this House and a Bill introduced and passed which confirmed the convention signed on 4th May, 1795, at Vienna 537 for this purpose; and that this House passed a Bill regulating this loan; and whether, following this precedent and safeguarding the rights of this House, he will proceed by Resolution and Bill to give due effect to any convention involving financial obligations on the taxpayers of this country which has been already, or may be hereafter, made between Great Britain and her Allies in connection with the present War?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI have not been able, in the time at my disposal, to verify the historical statements of my hon. Friend. As concerns the present War, Parliamentary authority for the financial assistance rendered by His Majesty's Government to our Allies has been obtained by means of the general Votes of Credit which have been passed by this House, and which have been, or will be, embodied in Appropriation Acts, and I see no reason for departing from this procedure in any future cases.
§ Mr. KINGWill the Prime Minister look into the matter with a view to seeing whether it is not in accordance with the traditions and liberties of this House that all grants to foreign Powers should be specified as to amounts, and as to the Power which is to receive assistance?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWell, Sir, these are very delicate matters.
§ Mr. KINGWill not the right hon. Gentleman look at this matter, not with the object of an immediate Resolution and of immediately carrying out the traditions of this House, but of giving a pledge, at any rate, that it will be done eventually?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe important thing is Parliamentary control. Parliamentary control, I think, ought to be preserved, and I hope will be preserved.