§ 47. Lieut.-Colonel GAULTasked the Prime Minister whether, in order to strengthen the Empire and implement the Ottawa Agreements, he will consider the advisability of establishing a permanent Imperial secretariat for the purpose of studying all matters pertaining to the welfare of the Empire as a whole and reporting to the Governments concerned; and whether he will take an early opportunity of discussing this question with His Majesty's Governments overseas?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe whole subject of the means of facilitating economic consultation and co-operation between the several Governments of the Commonwealth was considered last year by a committee upon which they were all represented, but that committee's recommendations did not include the establishment of any standing body such as I gather that my hon. and gallant Friend has in contemplation. His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom cannot by itself establish such machinery, and in these circumstances I doubt whether it would serve any useful purpose to raise the question at this stage.