§ Sir D. MACLEANBefore asking the Leader of the House the business for next week, may I ask the Prime Minister whether he has considered what passed in the House yesterday, with regard to the suggested discussion on the cession of Constantinople to the Turks, and also the condition of the Armenians in Cilicia; and whether, if no effort be made to secure your consent, Mr. Speaker, and the approval of the House, to an adjournment at 8.15 to-night, the Government would next week give the House an opportunity of discussing these very important matters?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI trust that my right hon. Friend will not deem it necessary to move the adjournment of 1048 the House for discussion on that subject at present. It would be very inopportune. I am not deprecating discussion on a subject on which there has been an announcement, and if there be a real desire in the House for a Debate the Government will find a day, which means that before any terms are submitted to Turkey, we should be very glad to give any facilities for a discussion. Personally I would prefer—if it would meet the convenience of the House—that the discussion should come on early in the following week, rather than during next week, when the Peace Conference will be sitting, and, if it would meet the convenience of the House and my right hon. Friend, as far as we are concerned we should be very happy to say Monday week.
§ Sir D. MACLEANMay I take it that the announcement of the Prime Minister means this, that the question to which he and I have referred will not be prejudiced further than it is to-day during, say, the course of the next four or five days, and that as far as the House is concerned it will be substantially in the same position for discussing that question as it is to-day? If the Prime Minister will tell us that, I shall at once accede to his suggestion, and I shall not make an attempt to secure the adjournment to-night.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI can give the assurance to the right hon. Gentleman and to the House. There will be no commitment beyond that we have already made on that subject before there is an opportunity for the House to discuss it.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs it not a fact that during this next week the Supreme Council will be discussing this question, and that, therefore, whether we are committed or not, the whole question will have gone a stage further before this House can discuss it, and that a discussion on this question now would influence the debate of the Supreme Council and possibly strengthen the right hon. Gentleman's hands? In any case, the position now and on Monday week must be completely different, because by that time the Supreme Council will have come to some definite decision in the matter.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am not sure that there will be any discussion upon 1049 that particular feature of the Turkish Peace Treaty by the Supreme Council, but in any event I would very respectfully deprecate any attempt by a Chamber of a particular country in which the Peace Conference happens to be held to influence the decisions of representatives from other lands. That was carefully avoided by the French Chamber. [HON. MEMBERS: "Kb, no!"] I think so.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYFully discussed.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI should have thought it was very undesirable to do so. Having invited representatives of the allies to come here for free and full discussion, I should have thought it was very undesirable to bring pressure to bear on the country from which they are invited.
§ Sir D. MACLEANAs my right hon. Friend will know, I am not unmindful of the position he has put to the House. Of course, it is quite understood that I reserve my rights even during next week should anything very exceptional arise.