HC Deb 30 November 1916 vol 88 cc448-9
2. Mr. KING

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the cablegrams sent by Viscount Grey and Monsieur Briand to the League to Enforce Peace meeting, held in New York on 25th November, it is to be understood that the general methods and proposals of that league, and not merely its ultimate object, have the approval of the Government and the Allies?

Lord R. CECIL

In reply to a telegram from Mr. Taft to Viscount Grey the following telegram was sent by him: I think public utterances must have already made it clear that I sincerely desire to see a League of Nations formed and made effective to secure the future peace of the world after this War is over. I regard this as the best, if not the only, prospect of preserving treaties and of saving the world from aggressive wars in years to come, and if there is any doubt about my sentiments in the matter I hope this telegram in reply to your own will remove it. This and his previous utterances on the subject need no further explanation or qualification. I have not got the text of the telegram sent by M. Briand. According to reports in the Press some speeches were made at the meeting of the League that were inconsistent with its own declaration of its objects, but I have no other knowledge of these speeches than what has appeared in the Press, and the message sent was on the assumption that the League and its objects were as originally constituted.

Sir W. BYLES

Does Germany agree to the same policy?

Lord R. CECIL

I do not know, and I do not very much care.

Mr. SNOWDEN

Shame, shame; it is disgraceful!

Mr. OUTHWAITE

You do not care how many men are killed!

78. Mr. SNOWDEN

asked the Prime Minister if he has received a copy of a resolution passed by the Blackburn and District Trades and Labour Council, representing nearly 30,000 organised workers, affirming its unshaken conviction that a lasting peace cannot be secured by a policy of conquest followed by a commercial war, but only by a policy which lays the foundation of a real international partnership, condemning a prolonged war of attrition, which it considers would involve the victors as well as the vanquished in social and economic ruin, and strongly urging that an attempt be made to ascertain whether we can now get by negotiation everything that the War was started to secure or defend, and demanding that the people of this country shall not be committed, without their knowledge or consent, to the support of schemes of territorial aggrandisement which have not hitherto been regarded as germane to the interests of this nation and which Parliament has neither debated nor sanctioned; and if it is his intention to adopt the policy outlined in this resolution?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Bonar Law)

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second, I have nothing to add to my public utterances on this subject.