HC Deb 07 May 1919 vol 115 cc1065-8

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."

Mr. ALFRED DAVIES

Can the Home Secretary state the leading features of the

Peace Terms? They have been published, I understand, in Paris to-day, and in the Press notices it is stated that they will be out in the morning. May we be told to-night what they are by the Home Secretary?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Shortt)

I am not aware that any leading features of the Peace Treaty have been published in Paris to-day. I do not know to what the hon. Gentleman refers. I have no information of any statement made in Paris of any sort or description. So far as I know, the terms of the Peace Treaty have been communicated to London, Paris, and Washington in exactly the same way; Members of the House of Commons in this country and the corresponding Chambers in the other countries have been treated in identically the same way; and the Press of those countries has been treated in the same way. I have no knowledge of any statement of the leading features or any other thing concerning the Peace Terms made in Paris.

Sir EDGAR JONES

The Home Secretary has answered very eloquently, but, think, mistakenly, having regard to the fact that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Kirkcaldy made a statement earlier in the day that he had the whole thing in his pocket. It is quite obvious from a statement of that kind that the Home Secretary must know that in Paris the Peace terms have been communicated to the Press. If it transpires that is so, why on earth cannot the Members of the House of Commons know? The methods of the Government in treating the Press as if the Press were the elected representatives of the people of this country have gone on too long. I certainly think that the Government should understand that even the House of Commons will assert its rights. We may lake it to-night that the Home Secretary, with a full sense of responsibility, has stated that no terms have been communicated to the Press—

Mr. SHORTT

No; I did not say anything of the sort.

Sir E. JONES

What on earth did the Home Secretary say? I listened to his statement. Cannot we have a plain answer, especially if it is a fact that these terms have been communicated behind the back of the House of Commons, and that; the Press is in possession of them.

Mr. SHORTT

I said nothing of the sort. I said that the Press of this country, of France, of America, and of the other countries, had been treated alike, and; that the representative Chambers of these countries had been treated alike. A Press summary has been sent out.

An HON. MEMBER

What does it say?

Mr. SHORTT

To suggest that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Kirkcaldy had the terms of Peace in his pocket is perfectly childish.

Mr. DAVIES

Can we know the Press summary?

Mr. N. M'LEAN

When, the right hon. Gentleman said that the respective Chambers of the different countries would be treated in the same manner, and the Press of the different countries also in the same manner, did he mean that the Press would be treated in the same manner by having a summary issued to them; and the Chambers in the same manner by keeping all the Chambers in ignorance of what has transpired even to the extent of the Press summary?

Mr. BOTTOMLEY

In view of the fact that we shall all know the Peace terms tomorrow morning, may I ask the Home Secretary if he can tell the House when the Prime Minister will be here to receive the congratulations of the House on having fulfilled, as he told us he intended to fulfil, his election pledges in connection with the Peace terms?

Mr. SHORTT

I cannot name the day, but he will be here in good time to receive I the congratulations to which the hon. Member refers.

Adjourned accordingly at Seventeen minutes after Eleven o'clock.