HC Deb 30 May 1921 vol 142 cc568-9
27. Mr. N. MACLEAN

asked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to state whether it is the intention of the Government to renew the Anglo-Japanese Treaty; whether the terms of the Treaty will be submitted to the House for ratification; whether the Government will insist upon Japan recognising her obligations under the present Treaty to maintain the independence and territorial integrity of Korea and China; and whether the restoration to Korea of her governmental, educational, and other institutions now dominated by Japan will be made one of the conditions of the Treaty, together with the cancellation of the Treaty between China and Japan which was signed as a result of Japan's ultimatum to China on 7th May, 1915?

The PRIME MINISTER

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member by the Leader of the House on the 11th May to a similar question.

Mr. MACLEAN

Am I to understand from that that the Government desire to withhold information from the House until after the Treaty is signed, and that this House is to have no opportunity of finding out what the Clauses in that treaty are?

The PRIME MINISTER

No.

Mr. MACLEAN

I give notice that I will repeat this question next Tuesday, and that if the answer be still unsatisfactory, I shall try to move the Adjournment of the House.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

Will the House have an opportunity of discussing the Treaty before it is finally ratified?

The PRIME MINISTER

I think that there will be many opportunities of discussing it before that arrives.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

I mean a discussion which will give us an opportunity to vote.