§ 47. Mr. MABANEasked the Prime Minister whether he is prepared to afford time for the discussion of the resolution standing on the Order Paper in the name of the hon. Member for Huddersfield:
["That, in the opinion of this House, it should be a principal purpose of the foreign policy of this country to prepare the ground for a reconsideration of the treaties of peace of 1919 and 1920, and that, as soon as the situation permits, it should be proposed to the Assembly of the League of Nations that action under Article 19 of the Covenant should be taken to secure such alterations of existing treaties as would meet grievances and contribute to the pacification of the world,"]and, if not, whether he will indicate what action the Government propose to take to secure an examination and, if need be, a revision of the post-war treaty settlements in order that grievances may be redressed and the principal object in the way of establishing a system of collective security may be removed?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI regret that in the state of public business I can hold out no hope of time being found for the discussion of the Motion standing in the name of the hon. Member.
§ Mr. MABANEIn view of the fact that the root cause of European unrest is to be found in the peace treaties, will not the Government take a strong initiative to bring the matter of the reconsideration of the peace treaties before the nations of Europe before it is too late?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe do attach the greatest importance to this matter. I am sure the hon. Member and the House realise that in our view any existing status could only be modified by agreement and negotiation.