§ 48. Captain W. BENNasked the Prime Minister whether an Order in Council to fix the date for the termination of the War would be issued after the ratification, of the Treaty of Peace between the Allied and Associated Powers and Germany; and whether it would be delayed until the ratification of the treaties to be made with the other enemy belligerents?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe Termination of the Present War (Definition) Act, 1918, declares that the Order in Council declaring the termination of the War is to be, as nearly as possible, simultaneous with the ratification of Peace with all our enemies, but power is given to His Majesty in Council to declare what date is to be treated as the date of the termination of war with any particular State.
§ Captain BENNWhen is it the intention of the Government to declare the War terminated officially?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThat is the question I have answered. As near as may be to the ratification of Peace.
§ Captain BENNDoes that mean that we are to wait until all the twenty-three belligerents have ratified the Peace?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI thought I had made it plain, but I will try again. The general termination of the War will not be declared until Peace has been ratified with all our enemies, but there is power to declare that the state of war has ceased in regard to a particular State, and that will happen in regard to Germany as soon as the Treaty has been ratified.
§ Captain BENNWhen will the Government give up the special powers granted to them as emergency powers, such as Defence of the Realm Act?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have answered that a good many times. They will give them up when this Act terminating the War comes into operation?
§ Captain BENNWhen is it coming into operation?