§ 51. Sir J. CRAIGasked the Prime Minister whether the return of the Home Secretary to this country indicates the conclusion of negotiations at The Hague; if so, whether he is in a position to make a statement on the subject of the new agreement; and, if not, whether all further negotiations will be suspended pending his return to The Hague?
61. Sir H. DALZIELasked the Prime Minister whether he can give the House any information as to the progress of the negotiations at The Hague for the exchange of prisoners?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe negotiations at The Hague as to the exchange and treatment of prisoners of war are not concluded; but it was considered that, in view of the number of questions requiring the immediate attention of the Home Secretary, his return to this country was desirable. The negotiations will be continued by the other members of the Mission, and at the stage which they have now reached, when further instructions will, no doubt, be required from the Cabinet, it will be a great advantage to be able to consult with my right hon. Friend.
§ Sir J. CRAIGCould anything be important enough at present to bring the right hon. Gentleman back from carrying to a successful conclusion such an important and delicate matter as the exchange of prisoners?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am sure we recognise the importance of it and, as I have just said, we hope the presence of the Home Secretary here will be useful at the stage which negotiations have now-reached.
Major WOODWill the Home Secretary be asked to return to The Hague when he has disposed of the difficult problems for which he returned to this country?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThat I think will be impossible. It will be too late. It is as certain as can be that the delegates there will require definite instructions from the Cabinet, and in giving these instructions it will be of immense advantage to have the advice of my right hon. Friend.
§ Sir C. HENRYIs it proposed to replace him by another delegate?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo. At the stage which the negotiations have now reached, my right hon. Friend agrees with me that that is quite unnecessary.
§ Sir J. CRAIGWill the whole matter of repatriation and exchange be under the aegis of the right hon. Gentleman; will one Cabinet Minister be in charge of the whole thing or must hon. Members go to various Departments to find out?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am afraid I cannot give a definite answer to that question without notice.
§ Sir J. CRAIGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Members of this House have extreme difficulty in running to earth the actual Department which has to do with all the various branches connected with this matter?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member had better put that question down on the Paper.