§ Mr. A. Henderson(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Dominions whether he is aware of the statement made yesterday by the Prime Minister of New Zealand disagreeing with the statement made by him on 12th April, and whether he has any statement to make on the matter?
§ The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald)Yes, Sir. I have seen the statement made by the Prime Minister of New Zealand in which he says that an answer which I gave to a question asked by the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, East (Mr. Mander) on 12th April does not altogether state the facts. Mr. Savage added "that is, if he has been correctly reported." I have ascertained that the report of my answer which went to New Zealand, and on which Mr. Savage based his statement, was in fact incomplete and incorrect. I have now received a message from Mr. Savage saying that the full report of what I said removes the misunderstanding and makes it clear that my answer was in accordance with the facts.
§ Mr. DaltonIn order that the House also may understand the position, may I ask whether it is still the case, according 1315 to the right hon. Gentleman, that the New Zealand Government have approved of and are in agreement with the foreign policy of His Majesty's Government?
§ Mr. MacDonaldI never made any such statement at all.
§ Mr. DaltonIs it not clear that that is the general impression conveyed by the answer of the right hon. Gentleman a few days ago?
§ Mr. MacDonaldindicated dissent.
§ Mr. ManderIn view of the fact that Mr. Savage, in his statement yesterday, said that the New Zealand Government had disagreed with certain phases of British policy, will my right hon. Friend say what were the particular points with which they disagreed?
§ Mr. MacDonaldIt would clearly be impossible to make a statement in answer to a supplementary question. I think the House is perfectly well aware of the facts, and has been aware of the facts ever since the New Zealand Government and the other British Commonwealth Governments made their statements regarding the League of Nations as long ago as 1936.
§ Mr. ManderAs my right hon. Friend says he cannot now, in answer to a question, make a statement, would he be good enough to take some other opportunity after Easter of making the position perfectly clear, in the interests of this country and of New Zealand?
§ Mr. MacDonaldMy answer the other day was clear, and Mr. Savage has agreed that it is in accordance with the facts.
§ Mr. GrenfellIs it not also clear from the statement which the right hon. Gentleman has now made that Mr. Savage's statement is equally correct?
§ Mr. MacDonaldI do not question for one moment the accuracy of his statement. Perhaps I might say to the House that Mr. Savage, in his message to me, indicated that not only the report of what I said, but also the report of what he said, was mutilated in transmission to this country.
§ Mr. A. HendersonIs it not a fact that the New Zealand Government have disagreed with certain phases of the foreign policy of His Majesty's Government?
§ Mr. MacDonaldMr. Savage has made a statement on that matter, and I do not in the least disagree with that statement, but I would point out at the same time that the differences which may occur and have occurred from time to time between New Zealand and this country do not alter the correctness of the statement I made.
§ Mr. DaltonIn view of the very unsatisfactory nature of the answer given by the right hon. Gentleman, I desire to give notice that I or one of my hon. Friends will take an early opportunity of raising this matter when the House resumes.