§ 14. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he intends to give immediate effect, so far as it can be done by administrative action under the existing law, to all the recommendations of the Paris Economic Conference relating to measures for the War period; if he will say which, if any, of such recommendations cannot be carried out under the existing law; and if he intends to introduce without delay whatever legislation may be requisite for giving effect to all such recommendations?
Mr. HARCOURTI understand that the Prime Minister will make a statement on 501 èthe whole subject shortly, and I do not think it would be desirable to anticipate that statement.
§ 49. Colonel NORTON GRIFFITHSasked the Prime Minister if he will give a day for the discussion of the Resolutions passed at the Paris Conference?
§ 50. Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Prime Minister when an opportunity will be given the House for the discussion of the recommendations of the Economic Conference of the Allies recently held in Paris?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)Yes, Sir, if there is any general desire for such a discussion the Government will endeavour to provide an early opportunity for it.
§ Mr. HOGGECan my right hon. Friend say whether the Secretary of State for the Colonies was right in saying the other day that the Paris Conference Resolutions were the policy of the Cabinet?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI must ask for notice of that.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that one day will be sufficient to discuss a question which means the abandonment of the Free Trade policy of this country?
§ 51. Sir E. CORNWALLasked the Prime Minister whether the Resolutions passed at the Economic Conference in Paris will, so far as possible, at once be given effect to by the British Government; and whether the House of Commons will be given an early opportunity of expressing its adherence and support to the policy recommended?
§ 56. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Prime Minister whether the statement of Mr. Hughes, one of the British representatives at the Paris Economic Conference, that the necessity for immediate action on the Resolutions of the Conference applies t5 Great Britain in a special way, and that not to act promptly is, so far as results go, as fatal as not to act at all, expresses the views of the Government; whether the Government have yet considered what action will be necessary to give effect to the Resolutions of the Conference; whether effect can be given to any and, if so, which of the Resolutions without resort to fresh legislation; and if he will say when it is proposed to introduce such legislation as may be required?
§ 62. Mr. G. TERRELLasked the Prime Minister if he can make a statement as to the steps which the Government propose to take to give effect to the recommendations of the recent Paris Economic Conference?
§ 63 Major HUNTasked the Prime Minister (1) whether his attention has been called to the warning of the French Minister of Commerce to the Allies against the employment of Germans in national industries; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent alien enemies from coming to the United Kingdom after the War for the purpose of spying in the interest of their own country and depriving our own people of work and wages in the United Kingdom; (2) whether he can give the House the assurance that immediate steps will be taken by the Government to carry out the Resolutions of the Paris Conference, in view of the fact that the Allies expect the British Government to give the lead; and (3) whether his attention has been called to the statement of the French Minister of Commerce to the effect that the Germans were at present manufacturing and assembling immense stocks of all classes of goods for the purpose of dumping them at half price on the world's markets after the War; and, in view of this evidence, can he now say what immediate steps the Government propose to take to prevent our industries from being ruined and our working people from being starved for want of employment?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI propose to make a general statement on this subject at an early date.
§ Mr. HOGGECan my right hon. Friend say whether he thinks the same as his colleague the Colonial Secretary?
§ The PRIMe MINISTERTime will show. [An HON. MEMBER: "Wait and see!"]