HC Deb 28 February 1918 vol 103 cc1524-6
3. Mr. PONSONBY

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any Committee has been appointed to study the question of the reconstitution and reorganisation of the foreign services in the light of the recommendations of the Royal Commission, in order that an improved system may be introduced at the earliest possible moment?

Lord R.CECIL

No such Committee has been appointed, but proposals in this direction have been made and are now under discussion with the Treasury.

Mr. WHYTE

Can the Noble Lord hold out any prospect that these proposals will be submitted to Parliament for discussion before their eventual adoption, as a policy, by the Foreign Office?

Lord R. CECIL

I do not think I can give any pledge of that kind. Of course, they will be open to discussion by the House. But it is very unusual to postpone a reform of this kind.

Mr. CHANCELLOR

Are we then only to discuss a fait accompli?

Lord R. CECIL

Of course, if Parliament desires, the proposals can be a discussion: it is not like the law of the Medes and Persians. But I may assure the House that I am as anxious as any hon. Member to have reform in the direction indicated by hon. Members. My seeming reluctance is due to the fact that I am afraid of delay in the matter.

Mr. WHYTE

If, according to the answer of the Noble Lord, he cannot postpone the inauguraton of these reforms until Debate has taken place in this House, may I ask him whether he will, at least, make public the proposals of the Foreign Office before they are finally adopted?

Lord R. CECIL

I could not possibly give a pledge of that kind, but I shall be glad to discuss the matter with my hon. Friend.

Mr. KING

Is not the Noble Lord aware that this Royal Commission—and its Report—is four years old, and therefore a possible delay of two or three weeks to allow the House to understand what the proposals are does not seem very unreasonable?

Mr. LYNCH

Is it not intended to introduce these reforms before the War is over?

Lord R. CECIL

I am in the hands of the Foreign Office, and cannot promise anything. But as far as I am concerned, I am anxious to see these reforms put through at the earliest possible moment.

Mr. WING

Are these new arrangements concerned with purely diplomatic representatives or will there be commercial representatives amongst the Attachés?

Lord R. CECIL

That is a separate subject: that is also being dealt with. I hope that also is in an advanced stage of preparation.

Captain G. A. LLOYD

May I ask that, at any rate, before those reforms are definitely decided upon, we shall have the opportunity of discussing the whole question in the House of Commons, if Members of the House desire it?

Lord R. CECIL

That is a question entirely for my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House. So far as I am concerned, I have no objection to a full discussion in this House. All I do think is that it must be left to the Government, who are responsible for administrative action: that any attempt to shift it on to the shoulders of the House of Commons is bound to lead to disaster.

Sir H. CRAIK

Is it not the ease that, constantly, administrative reorganisation has been carried through without being submitted to this House for previous discussion?

Lord R. CECIL

I should have said it was almost universal.