§ 50. Mr. LYNCHasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of public feeling with regard to the pension of £5,000 a year which has been paid to the Dowager Duchess of Coburg since 1874, he will now, in view of her relations with the enemy and the fact that she has 2084 resided in Germany since the War and encouraged the forces of the Kaiser, bring to the attention of the War Cabinet the dictum of international law that the obligations of treaties between States expire when the internal constitution of one of them is so changed as to render the treaty inapplicable to the new condition of things; and whether, in accordance with this view, the Government will consider the treaty null and void?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have nothing to add to the reply which was given to the hon. Member on this subject on the 5th June last.
§ Mr. LYNCHIs it not a fact that the policy of the Government is to wobble over the point in respect of paying enemy princes?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWOne of the reasons why the Government have not wobbled on that point is that there is an Act of Parliament which compels the payment.
§ Mr. LYNCHWill the right hon. Gentleman consult the Law Officers of the Crown, and reassure himself that the conditions have been so changed that the Act is null and void?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo; I think the hon. Gentleman refers to treaties. No question of law arises.