54 Major NEWMANasked the Prime Minister whether he will say if the lapsing of the Defence of the Realm Act will be coincident with the deposit of ratifications of the Peace Treaty; and will he say when it is expected that such deposit will take place?
55 Sir J. D. REESasked the Lord Privy Seal whether, upon the signing of Peace, restrictions upon brewing, Regulations requiring travellers to register particulars at hotels, persons sending telegrams to give their names and addresses, and other restrictions and Regulations introduced during war will at once be removed, repealed, and abolished?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWBy the termination of the Present War (Definition) Act, His Majesty may declare what date is to be treated as the date of the termination of the War, and the date so declared is to be as nearly as may be the date of the exchange or deposit of ratifications of the Treaties of Peace. The Defence of the Realm Acts, and the Regulations made there under, will, I understand, lapse on the date so fixed, except in so far as the Regulations may be kept alive by any other Statute.
Sir J. D. REESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these restrictions are not regarded as pin-pricks, but as wounds?
§ Mr. FRANCEMay I ask whether the Government have yet come to any decision?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo decision has yet been taken. It must be after the ratification of the. Treaty
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI think arrangements are made that if a certain number of the Great Powers have signed, the Treaty is considered ratified