36 and 37. Dr. MURRAYasked the Prime Minister (1) what decision was arrived at by the Council of the League of Nations at the meeting just held at Brussels with reference to the Aaland Islands;
(2) what decision was arrived at by the Council of the League of Nations at the meeting just held at Brussels with reference to the constitution of Danzig?
§ 38 and 39. Mr. RAFFANasked the Prime Minister (1) what decision was arrived at by the Council of the League of Nations at the meeting just held at Brussels with reference to the constitution of the permanent Mandates Commission;
(2) what decision was arrived at by the Council of the League of Nations at the meeting just held at Brussels with reference to the League's guarantee of the minority clauses of the Austrian and Bulgarian peace treaties?
§ 40 and 41. Mr. HANCOCKasked the Prime Minister (1) whether Signor Tittoni submitted to the Council of the League of Nations at the Brussels meeting a plan for the international control of monopolies of raw materials; and, if so, whether the scheme in question will be published without delay;
(2) whether the League budget for 1921 was discussed at the Brussels meeting of the Council of the League of Nations; if so, what decision was arrived 559 at; whether the proportion to be contributed by this country was fixed; and, if so, what is that proportion?
42. Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Prime Minister what decision was arrived at by the Council of the League of Nations at the meeting just held at Brussels with regard to the future status of Armenia?
§ 43. Mr. BRIANTasked the Prime Minister whether the Reports of the permanent Advisory Commission on Military, Naval, and Air Questions were received by the Council of the League of Nations at the meeting just held at Brussels; and, if so, what were their terms?
§ 44. Major ENTWISTLEasked the Prime Minister whether, at the meeting just held at Brussels, the Council of the League of Nations drew up a programme limiting the armaments of the various States which are seeking admission to the League; and, if so, whether that programme can be published forthwith?
§ 54 and 55. Mr. KILEYasked the Prime Minister (1) what is the substance of Dr. Nansen's Report on the repatriation of prisoners of war presented by the Secretary-General of the League of Nations to the Council at the meeting just held at Brussels;
(2) what is the substance of the Report of the campaign against typhus which was presented by the Secretary-General of the League of Nations Council at the meeting just held at Brussels?
§ The LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (Mr. Balfour)These questions relate to the proceedings at the recent meeting of the Council of the League of Nations at Brussels. I am sure it would be quite impossible, and if possible quite improper, to attempt to summarise the documents embodying the results arrived at. Those documents will be published in full by the "Official Journal" of the League of Nations when that comes out. No doubt before that time arrives we in this country shall have received from the secretariat authentic copies of all these documents, and as soon as they arrive I propose, with Mr. Speaker's permission, that they should be placed in the Library of the House of Commons. Whether, in addition to plac- 560 ing the documents in the Library of the House of Commons and their publication in the "Official Journal" of the League, it will be necessary or desirable to publish them separately as a Parliamentary Paper it is hardly for me to determine, but from the point of view of the League of Nations there is no objection to any degree of publicity which can possibly be given to these documents, but they cannot be summarised.
§ Mr. RAFFANCan the right hon. Gentleman give us any indication when he hopes to be able to do this?
§ Mr. BALFOURIt is only fair to the secretariat of the League of Nations, a very hard-working and hard-worked body, to say that they are under special difficulties at present, because the whole headquarters staff is in process of transition from London to Geneva. That may cause some delay, but I do not think the delay will be very long. If the hon. Member would like to put down a question a little later I shall be able to give him the information he desires.
§ Mr. RAFFANIn about a week?
§ Mr. BALFOURI should hope less than that, but I cannot promise.
§ Mr. HOGGEOn what occasion can these matters be discussed in the House of Commons, and is the proper method to lay the Papers in the Library of the House of Commons and not inside the jurisdiction of the House?
§ Mr. BALFOURI was not aware that it was part of the programme of any party in this House to rediscuss in the House of Commons all the questions which were discussed in the Council of the League of Nations. If that is their object, I think the Session will be not inconsiderably prolonged. But the hon. Member will see, at any rate, that if he wants to raise a particular point, if, when he sees the documents, he says, "A different decision should be come to," or "The line taken by the British representatives is one which the House of Commons ought not to approve," or any other amiable conclusion of that kind—if he wishes to discuss those questions in the House of Commons, he should address himself to the Leader of the House.
§ Mr. HOGGEAccepting the amiable suggestion of the right hon. Gentleman, may I ask the Leader of the House if he 561 considers it right that the League of Nations in this Assembly should come to decisions internationally affecting this country, and that there is no proper method of raising them on the Floor of this House without recourse to documents which do not belong to us, being laid on the Library of the House of Commons, and, therefore, the only resource left to hon. Members is to ask for special days from the Prime Minister or the Leader of the House to raise those questions?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWWhat other possible method has ever existed in this House for dealing with such questions? My right hon. Friend has explained the process with perfect clearness. If there is any subject on which there is a general desire for discussion, a request can be made, and time will be given.
§ Mr. HOGGEDoes that mean that we as a nation may be committed to an international decision, seeing that we are a component part of the League of Nations, without the authority of this House in ratification except by the extraordinary method of asking for a day?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe hon. Member's question implies that there can be no League of Nations if every subject, before it is discussed or decided, has to be debated in this House.