12. Marquess of HARTINGTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether steps will be taken to ascertain the views of the Dominions before the representative of the British Empire on the Council of the League of Nations votes on a question which so vitally affects their interests as that of the addition of new permanent members of the Council in addition to Germany?
45 and 46. Captain CROOKSHANKasked the Prime Minister (1) whether, in view of the fact that, by Article 4 of the Covenant of the League of Nations, it falls upon the Council of the League, with the approval of the majority of the Assembly, to name new permanent members of the Council, and of the fact that it is the British Empire and not Great Britain which is a permanent member of the Council, he is in consultation with the Dominions with regard to the possible admission of Germany and other nations to permanent membership of the Council; and whether he can assure the House that the representative of the Government at the forthcoming meeting of the League will not give a vote regarding such applications unless and until the Dominions express their concurrence with the policy advocated by His Majesty's Government;
(2) whether he will give an assurance to the House that His Majesty's Government will consult the Dominions in every case when an application for permanent membership of the Council is received from a member of the League of Nations?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINBy the terms of the Covenant a permanent seat on the Council is attributed to the British Empire but the extent to which that representative can speak on behalf of the Dominions depends upon the circumstances of each particular case and the character of the communications which have passed between His Majesty's Government and the Dominion Governments. The Dominions have separate representation in the Assembly and their representatives there act on the instructions of their own 1900 Governments although frequent consultation of all the Empire delegates takes place. His Majesty's Government are already in communication with the Dominions on the matters referred to in these questions.
As regards the future, I can readily assure my hon. Friends that we shall pursue the same policy of consultation with the Dominions with reference to other applications for permanent membership as in reference to any other international issue of importance.
§ Mr. PONSONBYIs there any prospect of the question of the extension of the numbers of the Council of the League coming up at the meeting in March?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI think there is every prospect, almost amounting to a certainty, that it will come up.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that the representation of Canada on the Council of the League is as important to the future peace of the world as the representation of Brazil?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI rather deprecate invidious comparisons of that kind. The sympathy of the British Government with the desires and aspirations of any one of his Majesty's Dominions has been expressed again and again.