HC Deb 09 August 1920 vol 133 cc41-5
46. Sir DONALD MACLEAN

asked 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 LAW

In 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. MACLEAN

While 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 LAW

We 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. CECIL

May 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 LAW

I do not think there is the least danger of that. It was made 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. MACLEAN

Is 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 LAW

Yes; and I hope I have said nothing contradictory to that, because, of course, it is the fact.

Mr. CLYNES

May we take that answer to mean that no warlike measures are being privately prepared?

Mr. BONAR LAW

It 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. MILLS

I 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 LAW

I 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 WEDGWOOD

May I ask my private notice question?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. and gallant Member has already asked it in the form of a supplementary question.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

I 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 LAW

I 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 WEDGWOOD

What 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 LAW

That 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 WEDGWOOD

I 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 LAW

May 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 KENWORTHY

Too 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 WEDGWOOD

Between 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 WEDGWOOD

I 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.

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.