§ 46. Mr. Granvilleasked the Prime Minister whether, in order to facilitate closer and more direct co-operation in the Empire war effort, he will consider, as a war-time precedent, the amendment of the Statute of Westminster to enable the Dominion Prime Ministers to attend the sittings of the House of Commons during the period of their visits to this country for consultation with the War Cabinet?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Mr. GranvilleHas my right hon. Friend noticed the recent precedent set in Ottawa, when the Australian Prime Minister addressed the Canadian House of Commons? Does he not think that that would be a good precedent for us to copy? Is he now prepared to satisfy public opinion by the formation of an Empire War Cabinet?
§ Sir Henry Morris-JonesIs my right hon. Friend aware that the people of this country will insist shortly upon having an Empire War Cabinet?
§ Mr. Benjamin SmithDoes the Prime Minister not consider that the Dominions themselves should have a word to say upon that?
§ The Prime MinisterWith regard to the first part of the Supplementary Question of my hon. Friend the Member for Eye (Mr. Granville), I have nothing to add to my statement, that the answer is "No." Anyone who has had any experience of the House of Commons would realise that such a step would mean a complete departure in principle from the procedure 31 we have followed for generations. As for the second part of the supplementary, which was supported by my hon. Friend the Member for Denbigh (Sir H. Morris-Jones), that is utterly irrelevant to anything which appeared on the Paper.
§ Mr. GranvilleDoes my right hon. Friend not think that the suggestions contained in the first part of my Question would be a very good way of getting over the difficulties in the Dominions with regard to this?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, I do not.