§ 34. Sir F. BANBURYasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of his statement in February last that the Turkish delegates would be here in a week and that he would ratify the Treaty right away, he will take steps at once to declare the termination of the War, as the delay in declaring peace is affecting adversely the commercial and financial interests of the country?
§ The PRIME MINISTERMy right hon. Friend has not repeated my statement correctly. If he will refer to the OFFICIAL REPORT, he will, see that I stated that if we arrived, as we hoped we should, at an agreement, I should ask the House to ratify the Treaty right away. I regret that subsequent developments have rendered this course impossible. In these circumstances, I do not think it is possible to adopt the suggestion of my right hon. Friend immediately, but it is clear that if agreement is much longer postponed there must be an official declaration on the lines indicated by my right hon. Friend.
§ Sir F. BANBURYMay I say I am much obliged for the answer; but I would ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware that very important financial and commercial interests have been held up for years, and are dependent on the declaration of peace?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is in the question.