§ 3. Sir PATRICK HANNONasked the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs whether an invitation has been, or will be, issued to the Governments of those countries concerned in the Ottawa Agreements to attend a further conference of the same nature with a view to continuing those Agreements in the same or another form?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for DOMINION AFFAIRS (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald)As the House is aware, the Agreements between the United Kingdom and the Dominions concluded at the Imperial Conference at Ottawa in 1932 do not terminate on any fixed date, but each Agreement continues in force unless, at any time after 19th February, 1937, six months' notice of denunciation is given by either party to it. The most convenient method of dealing with questions arising out of the Agreements which any of His Majesty's Governments may wish to raise is now under discussion between the Governments affected. In the view of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, it would be most appropriate to proceed by way of discussions with the individual Governments affected as occasion offers, and they have brought this view to the notice of the Dominion Governments.
§ Sir P. HANNONIn the discussions to which my right hon. Friend refers, will favourable consideration be given to the interests of this country in relation to any new agreements that may be made?
§ Mr. MacDONALDCertainly.