§ 53. Mr. T. JOHNSTONasked the Prime Minister whether he has received a resolution passed at the conference at Brighton on 22nd May last in favour of a treaty with Russia and a loan to be given to Russia; and what action he proposes to take?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs my hon. Friend gives me no indication of the conference to which he refers, my answer must be in the negative.
§ Mr. PRINGLEOn a point of Order. I wish for a ruling from you, Sir, regarding the appearance of such questions on the Paper. On frequent occasions it has been ruled from tins Chair and by the Clerks at the Table that no questions are allowed, either to the Prime Minister or to any other Minister, regarding any unofficial conference, unless—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"]—yes, unless the resolutions referred to are resolutions which specifically direct that the views are to be brought to the notice of the Prime Minister?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI assumed that that was so in this case.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONArising out of the original question and answer, may I ask the Prime Minister specifically if he has received a resolution, passed unanimously by the National Liberal Federation at Brighton, in which a recommendation was unanimously passed in favour of a loan to Russia, with only one proviso, that such a loan should not be spent for military purposes bat for productive purposes?
§ Mr. MASTERMANIs the Prime Minister aware that that the terms of this question are—no dould unconsciously—entirely misleading; that in the report, to which my hon. Friend has referred, it was stated that no loan under any circumstances should be given to Russia by the British Government or as a guaranteed loan to Russia and that—[HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"]
§ Mr. SPEAKERI would suggest that the right hon. Gentleman might put down an unstarred question asking for the text of the resolution.
§ Mr. MASTERMANOn a point of Order. I myself and most of my Friends have had questions of that sort refused by the Clerks at the Table. Is it in order that Members should put down questions which are misleading? [Interruption.]
§ Mr. PRINGLEOn the point of Order. Are we to understand—[Interruption.] I wish to know for the guidance of the House whether the practice, which in the 489 past has been disallowed to Members in every section of the House, and which has now been allowed for the first time to supporters of the Government, is to be extended to all parts of the House?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI had no idea that there appeared to be so much underlying this question. My knowledge is not so extensive as that of the hon. Member for Penistone. All I can say is that I will examine questions of this kind more carefully in the future.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONOn a point of Order. Is it in order for the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Rusholme (Mr. Masterman) to describe a question on the Order Paper as misleading, when, as a matter of fact, it is a strictly accurate representation of the Resolution?
§ Mr. SPEAKERClearly, there is a difference of opinion about that.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI cannot permit more time to be taken up over this question.