§ 32. Mr. HURDasked the Prime Minister what are to be the status and character of the gathering of statesmen of the Empire next June; will it be in the nature of an Imperial Cabinet or Imperial Conference, or both; and will it be possible to arrange for the direct 266 representation of the British West Indies, as well as India, at any of these gatherings?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs was fully explained by the Leader of the House on the 17th November last, in reply to a question by the hon. Member, the meeting will be on the lines of the Imperial War Cabinet meetings of 1917 and 1918. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. HURDSeeing that at the time of the previous Conference there were also meetings of the Imperial Conference, will that precedent be followed next June?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes. I think it is very likely that there will be certain questions to be dealt with by the Conference which will not be discussed by the Cabinet.
§ Mr. HURDIn that event, will any chance be given to the British West Indies to be represented on the Conference?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot commit myself to that at the present moment, but up to the present the West Indies have not been represented at any of these Conferences. It would, I imagine, be necessary to consult the Dominions.