§ 46. Sir DONALD MACLEANasked the Prime Minister what is the attitude of the Government with regard to the suggested intervention by this country in the Russo-Polish war; and whether he will to-day make a statement on the whole position?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIn view of the fact that the conference is still sitting at Lympne, it has been necessary for my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to postpone his promised statement until to-morrow.
§ Sir D. MACLEANWhile agreeing, of course, that the statement must be deferred until the Prime Minister returns to-morrow, may I ask the Leader of the House whether the Government intend to go on with the prospective arrangement for the Adjournment of the House, while this crisis is hanging over us; and, if so, is he aware that very many of us will do our very best to prevent the Adjournment of the House until the crisis is over?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWWe had better wait, I think, until the time comes for the Adjournment. As regards the statement, the documents since we last met have been published, and there is really nothing which I could give to the House to-day.
§ Lord R. CECILMay I ask whether it is clearly understood that we shall not be committed to war till a communication has been made to this House, and an opportunity given to the House to express its opinion?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI do not think there is the least danger of that. It was made 42 quite plain last week—quite plain—that in view of the fact that an armistice had not been given, we were taking steps to do all possible to prevent a new Brest-Litovsk treaty.
§ Sir D. MACLEANIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Prime Minister, in terms, promised in reply to a question of mine, that they would not go to war without a full and free discussion in this House?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWYes; and I hope I have said nothing contradictory to that, because, of course, it is the fact.
§ Mr. CLYNESMay we take that answer to mean that no warlike measures are being privately prepared?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIt depends upon what is meant. [HON. MEMBERS: "Don't answer!"] It depends upon what is meant by "warlike measures." I am sure the whole House will feel that, as I was not present at the Conference—as, indeed, I stayed in London on the chance of being useful here—I am not fully informed; and it would be very unwise for me to add anything to what I have said.
§ Mr. MILLSI should like to ask the Leader of the House what justification he has for the statement that the Russians are not willing to make peace, seeing that the facts, as far as the whole Press of the world makes out, are that it was precisely because the Polish delegates were not armed with a mandate to make peace, that peace was not made?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI would much prefer to say nothing; but I cannot allow that to go uncontradicted. A Government mission is at Warsaw, and our information is the exact reverse of what the hon. Member has now said.
§ At the end of Questions—
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I ask my private notice question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Member has already asked it in the form of a supplementary question.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODI tried to do so, but you would not allow me. I wish to ask if we can be assured that no warlike measures against Russia will be taken before a statement has been made in this House?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI was under the impression that that question had been answered in answer to a supplementary question, but I am quite ready to answer it again. I can only confirm what was said by the Prime Minister—that we shall certainly not go to war without asking the House of Commons. As to what is meant by "warlike operations." that is another question, and we have already described what we are doing. I should like to say to the House definitely that the last thing we want is to have the responsibility entirely on the shoulders of the Government. We shall certainly take the House of Commons entirely into our confidence.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWhat I want to know is, has this country been let into any expenditure in connection with these warlike operations as yet, and can we have the pledge that was given to us before carried out—that we shall not embark on this policy till the Prime Minister's statement has been made in this House?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThat pledge was never given. On the contrary, the Prime Minister stated in the most explicit way last week that we are now taking steps, in the fear that the Bolshevists mean to destroy the independence of Poland, to do what we can to put Poland in a position to obtain reasonable terms of peace.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODI beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, in order to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, "the taking of warlike measures against Russia without this House having had an opportunity of dis-
§ cussing the matter or of sanctioning the expense, and without any declaration of war."
§ Mr. BONAR LAWMay I appeal to the hon. and gallant Member? Of course, I know that he can do just as he likes, but this will certainly be discussed tomorrow, and I think that that will be a much better opportunity—
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYToo late to-morrow!
§ Mr. BONAR LAW—and there will certainly be nothing done between to-day and to-morrow to make that course undesirable.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODBetween to-day and to-morrow the whole mischief will be done. The only chance we have of discussing this before action is taken by our Fleet is by discussing it to-day, and by registering our protest to-day against this country being committed to another war. I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House.
§ The pleasure of the House not having been signified, Mr. SPEAKER called on those Members who supported the Motion to rise in their places, and, fewer than 40 Members, but not fewer than 10, having accordingly risen—
§ Colonel WEDGWOODI claim a Division, under Standing Order No. 10.
§ Question put, "That leave be given to move, 'That this House do now adjourn.'"
§ The House divided: Ayes, 47; Noes, 163.
45| Division No. 321] | AYES. | [3.55 p.m. |
| Adamson, Rt. Hon. William | Hogge, James Myles | Royce, William Stapleton |
| Barnes, Major H, (Newcastle, E.) | Holmes, J. Stanley | Sexton, James |
| Benn, Captain Wedgwood (Leith) | Kenworthy, Lieut.-Commander J. M. | Sitch, Charles H. |
| Bowerman, Rt. Hon. Charles W. | Kiley, James D. | Spoor, B. G. |
| Briant, Frank | Lawson, John J. | Swan, J. E. |
| Carter, W. (Nottingham, Mansfield) | Lunn, William | Thorne, G. R. (Wolverhampton, E.) |
| Clynes, Rt. Hon. J. R. | Maclean, Rt. Hon. Sir D. (Midlothian) | Walsh, Stephen (Lancaster, Ince) |
| Crooks, Rt. Hon. William | Malone, C. L. (Leyton, E.) | Waterson, A. E. |
| Davies, A. (Lancaster, Clitheroe) | Mills, John Edmund | Wedgwood, Colonel J. C. |
| Davison, J. E. (Smethwick) | Morgan, Major D. Watts | White, Charles F. (Derby, Western) |
| Edwards, C. (Monmouth, Bedwellty) | Morris, Richard | Wignall, James |
| Entwistle, Major C. F. | Murray, Dr. D. (Inverness & Ross) | Wood, Major M. M. (Aberdeen, C.) |
| Graham, W. (Edinburgh, Central) | Myers, Thomas | Young, Robert (Lancaster, Newton) |
| Griffiths, T. (Monmouth, Pontypool) | O'Grady, Captain James | |
| Grundy, T. W. | Raffan, Peter Wilson | TELLERS FOR THE AYES.— |
| Hirst, G. H. | Robertson, John | Mr. Tyson Wilson and Mr. Nell Maclean. |
| Hodge, Rt. Hon. John | Rose, Frank H. | |
| NOES. | ||
| Adair, Rear-Admiral Thomas B. S | Atkey, A. R. | Balfour, George (Hampstead) |
| Addison, Rt. Hon. Dr. C. | Bagley, Captain E. Ashton | Banbury, Rt. Hon. Sir Frederick G. |
| Agg-Gardner, Sir James Tynte | Baird, Sir John Lawrence | Barnett, Major R. W. |
| Amery, Lieut.-Col. Leopold C. M. S. | Baldwin, Rt. Hon. Stanley | Barnston, Major Harry |
| Barrie, Charles Coupar | Harmsworth, C. B. (Bedford, Luton) | Parker, James |
| Bellairs, Commander Carlyon W. | Henderson, Major V. L. (Tradeston) | Parry, Lieut.-Colonel Thomas Henry |
| Bennett, Thomas Jewell | Henry, Denis S. (Londonderry, S.) | Pearce, Sir William |
| Betterton, Henry B. | Herbert, Dennis (Hertford, Watford) | Pease, Rt. Hon. Herbert Pike |
| Bird, Sir A. (Wolverhampton, West) | Hewart, Rt. Hon. Sir Gordon | Peel, Col. Hon. S. (Uxbridge, Mddx.) |
| Blades, Capt. Sir George Rowland | Hope, James F. (Sheffield, Central) | Pennefather, De Fonblanque |
| Blair, Reginald | Home, Sir R. S. (Glasgow, Hillhead) | Perring, William George |
| Berwick, Major G. O. | Illingworth, Rt. Hon. A. H. | Pinkham, Lieut.-Colonel Charles |
| Bottomley, Horatio W. | Jackson, Lieut.-Colonel Hon. F. S. | Pratt, John William |
| Bowles, Colonel H. F. | James, Lieut.-Colonel Hon. Cuthbert | Purchase, H. G. |
| Bowyer, Captain G. E. W. | Jameson, J. Gordon | Raeburn, Sir William H. |
| Breese, Major Charles E. | Jesson, C. | Rankin, Captain James S. |
| Broad, Thomas Tucker | Johnstone, Joseph | Rawlinson, John Frederick Peel |
| Brown, T. W. (Down, North) | Jones, Sir Edgar R. (Merthyr Tydvil) | Rees, Sir J. D. (Nottingham, East) |
| Bruton, Sir James | Jones, Sir Evan (Pembroke) | Rees, Capt. J. Tudor- (Barnstaple) |
| Buchanan, Lieut.-Colonel A. L. H. | Jones, G. W. H. (Stoke Newington) | Robinson, Sir T. (Lancs, Stretford) |
| Bull, Rt. Hon. Sir William James | Jones, J. T. (Carmarthen, Llanelly) | Roundell, Colonel R. F. |
| Campion, Lieut.-Colonel W. R. | Kellaway, Rt. Hon. Fredk. George | Sanders, Colonel Sir Robert A. |
| Carr, W. Theodore | King, Captain Henry Douglas | Scott, A. M. (Glasgow, Bridgeton) |
| Casey, T. W. | Kinloch-Cooke, Sir Clement | Shortt, Rt. Hon. E. (N'castle-on-T.) |
| Chadwick, R. Burton | Law, Rt. Hon. A. B. (Glasgow, C.) | Smithers, Sir Alfred W. |
| Chamberlain, Rt. Hon. J. A. (Birm., W.) | Lewis, Rt. Hon. J. H. (Univ., Wales) | Sprot, Colonel Sir Alexander |
| Churchill, Rt. Hon. Winston S. | Lewis, T. A. (Glam., Pontypridd) | Stanley, Major Hon. G. (Preston) |
| Cope, Major Wm. | Lindsay, William Arthur | Stevens, Marshall |
| Cowan, D. M. (Scottish Universities) | Lister, Sir R. Ashton | Stewart, Gershom |
| Craig, Colonel Sir J. (Down, Mid) | Locker-Lampson, Com. O. (H'tingd'n) | Sturrock, J. Leng |
| Craik, Rt. Hon. Sir Henry | Long, Rt. Hon. Walter | Sutherland, Sir William |
| Davies, Thomas (Cirencester) | Lorden, John William | Talbot, G. A. (Hemel Hempstead) |
| Davison, Sir W. H. (Kensington, S.) | Lowther, Lt.-Col. Claude (Lancaster) | Taylor, J. |
| Denniss, Edmund R. B. (Oldham) | Lyle-Samuel, Alexander | Terrell, George (Wilts, Chippenham) |
| Doyle, N. Grattan | Lynn, R. J. | Thomas, Sir Robert J. (Wrexham) |
| Elliot, Capt. Walter E. (Lanark) | Macdonald, Rt. Hon. John Murray | Thomson, F. C. (Aberdeen, South) |
| Eyres-Monsell, Commander B. M. | Macpherson, Rt. Hon. James I. | Thomson, Sir W. Mitchell- (Maryhill) |
| Falle, Major Sir Bertram G. | Macquisten, F. A. | Tickler, Thomas George |
| Fildes, Henry | Malone, Major P. B. (Tottenham, S.) | Tryon, Major George Clement |
| Fisher, Rt. Hon. Herbert A. L. | Mildmay, Colonel Rt. Hon. F. B. | Wallace, J. |
| Flannery, Sir. James Fortescue | Mitchell, William Lane | Walters, Rt. Hon. Sir John Tudor |
| Ford, Patrick Johnston | Molson, Major John E[...]sdale | Ward, Col, L. (Kingston-upon-Hull) |
| Fraser, Major Sir Keith | Mond, Rt. Hon. Sir Alfred M. | Williamson, Rt. Hon. Sir Archibald |
| Frece, Sir Walter de | Moore, Major-General Sir Newton J. | Wilson, Daniel M. (Down, West) |
| Fremant[...]e, Lieut.-Colonel Francis E. | Moore-Brabazon, Lieut.-Col. J. T. C. | Wilson, Colonel Leslie O. (Reading) |
| Gange, E. Stanley | Morden, Colonel H. Grant | Winterton, Major Earl |
| Ganzoni, Captain F. J. C. | Munro, Rt. Hon. Robert | Wolmer, Viscount |
| Gibbs, Colonel George Abraham | Murchison, C. K. | Wood, Sir H. K. (Woolwich, West) |
| Gilbert, James Daniel | Murray, C. D. (Edinburgh) | Worthington-Evans, Rt. Hon. Sir L. |
| Gilmour, Lieut.-Colonel John | Murray, Major William (Dumfries) | Yeo, Sir Alfred William |
| Goff, Sir R. Park | Neal, Arthur | Young, Lieut.-Com. E. H. (Norwich) |
| Grant, James A. | Newman, Sir R. H. S. D. L. (Exeter) | Younger, Sir George |
| Green, Joseph F. (Leicester, W.) | Nicholl, Commander Sir Edward | |
| Greig, Colonel James William | Nicholson, William G. (Petersfield) | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Hacking, Captain Douglas H. | Palmer, Lieut.-Colonel G. L. | Lord E. Talbot and Capt. Guest. |
| Hamilton, Major C. G. C. |
Motion made, and Question, "That the Bill be now read a Third time," put, and agreed to.