§ Captain WEDGWOOD BENNOn a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. I asked your leave to put a question to the Prime Minister by private notice. I am afraid in sending you the question I failed to make it clear to you that it had reference to a very urgent matter, which will be seriously prejudiced if the question is delayed until Monday. In these circumstances, I beg your leave to ask the question now.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Member's question only reached me shortly before the sitting of the House. I must be satisfied that it comes within the Rules, and I cannot now accept it.
§ Captain BENNVery serious financial interests are involved in the question, which I will not refer to because that would be improper, but I submit, in the circumstances—the Prime Minister knows the urgency of the case—you should permit me to put the question.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI must apply the same Rule to the hon. and gallant Member as to other Members.
§ Captain BENNThen, Sir, will you tell me when the proper moment arrives for me to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House in reference to this subject. Shall I do it now or after the Ballot?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe proper time is at the end of Questions.
§ Mr. PRINGLEI desire to ask your ruling, Sir, as to whether it is a definite Rule of the House that no question is allowed to be put by private notice unless it is urgent and there is no other opportunity of answering it; and whether, in these circumstances, certain questions are put in this way which could be quite well put on the Paper? Indeed, on a recent occasion a question was allowed which had been for two days on the Paper.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI must express my gratitude to the hon. Member for his vigilance in this matter, and for pointing out to me something which had escaped my notice. Of course, every hon. Member thinks his own question is urgent.
§ At the end of Question—
§ Captain W. BENNI beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the failure of the Government to secure effective relief for British traders whose goods are held up or otherwise interfered with by the new authorities in the Rhineland.
§ The PRIME MINISTEROn a point of Order. May I say in regard to this matter, on which a question was addressed to me by private notice, that in my opinion it is impossible that any action of this House can make any difference. We are having constant communications on the matter and are doing everything possible to facilitate trade, and in my belief everything possible is being done.
§ Captain BENNOn that point of Order. May I direct attention to the fact that large cargoes, including one cargo from my own constituency, are being held up. At present there is a threat to sell one of these cargoes by auction, and therefore the interests of British traders are in grave jeopardy.
§ Sir JOHN SIMONOn a point of Order. May I respectfully ask you, Sir, whether it is in itself any reason for saying that a matter is not urgent and public that there should be a statement made by the head of the Government that they are doing what they can, but cannot do anything effective?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI put it forward that nothing that would be done by the House of Commons could make any difference.
§ Mr. J. JONESCannot we protect our own people?
§ Mr. SPEAKERMy mind has not been affected by that at all, but this is a matter which has been under the notice of the House for days, if not longer. And with regard to the particular case referred to by the hon. and gallant Member as affecting his constituency, I have no doubt there are many others. There is a question, if I am not mistaken, on the Paper for to-morrow by the right hon. Member at his side (Sir J. Simon) on that very question, and if it be on the Paper for to-morrow, it is not urgent for to-day.
§ Captain BENNOn a point of Order. May I submit to you that this is a matter of growing urgency? I should have asked leave to move the Adjournment of the House a week ago, but the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs informed me that he was making representations. Now it is clear from our information that these representations, though made to the Government ten days ago, have received nothing but a formal reply, and in these circumstances I submit that this is a matter which comes under the Standing Order which lays it down that matters of definite and urgent public importance may be raised in this way.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe only thing I can say is that, in my opinion, it does not.