§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI understand that I shall meet the wishes of both parties opposite if I follow my right hon. Friend, without waiting for any further development of criticism or advice. My right hon. Friend who has just spoken has paid a compliment to my discretion which amounted almost to a suggestion that I lacked candour.
§ Mr. FISHERNo.
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINIt is my object, at all stages in conducting the foreign affairs of this country, to take the House of Commons and the country, and especially the House of Commons, into the fullest confidence that circumstances permit, because it is only in that way that we can hope to arrive at a national policy, and in the sphere of foreign affairs above all it is desirable that our policy should be national and not party. I am sure my right hon. Friend the Member for the Combined English Universities (Mr. Fisher) himself and the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Aberavon (Mr. MacDonald) are under no doubt as to the delicacy of the subjects with which the speech to which we have just listened has dealt, or as to the caution, and even, indeed, the reticence, with which I must speak upon them. They will know—above all, my immediate predecessor will know—how easy it is for anyone in this position, by some chance phrase that may escape us in Debate, to add a difficulty to the too numerous difficulties that already exist, instead of smoothing them away and making easier the path of progress. I hope, therefore, though I will speak with all the frankness that I think the public interest and the interest of peace demand, that the Committee will not blame me if I still speak with a certain caution, and still reserve my own opinion on many subjects because they are not ripe for decision by His Majesty's Government or for any public declaration of policy by us.
I think it will be convenient that I should reverse the order of the right hon. Gentleman's speech, and deal first with the minor questions with which he concluded. I say "minor questions," though there was no question he mentioned throughout his speech which is not one of almost daily occurrence in my thoughts, and of much grave and sometimes anxious consideration. But there are questions of greater, and questions of lesser importance, and those with which he concluded, though they are important yet, if badly handled, they might give rise to great dangers, although they are not of such a far-reaching consequence as those which were dealt with in the earlier passages of the same speech.