§ 45. Mr. Stokesasked the Prime Minister whether he will now consider the elucidation of points 4 and 8 of the Atlantic Charter which, in their present form, are bound to cause grave doubt in the minds of enemy, neutral and allied peoples alike, as to the future intentions of His Majesty's Government?
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Attlee)I am not prepared to add anything at this stage to the Prime Minister's statement in the Debate on 9th September, when he said that it was a wise rule for one party to a joint instrument such as the Atlantic Charter to refrain from putting special interpretations upon this or that passage.
§ Mr. StokesMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether or not the authors of the Atlantic Charter paid due regard to the importance of cutting the ground from under the dictators' feet, and does the right hon. Gentleman think these two Clauses are likely to have that effect?
§ Mr. AttleeI am quite sure they had that matter in their minds, and I should think that those two Clauses would be very useful.
§ Mr. Rhys DaviesWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the Atlantic Charter was drafted before the outbreak of hostilities in the Pacific, and that the whole situation has changed since then?
§ Mr. AttleeThat ought not to alter principles.
§ Mr. StokesWill the Lord Privy Seal himself study reports coming in from abroad which show the stimulating effect which the Atlantic Charter has had in reinforcing people behind Hitler, instead of the reverse? Ought not something to be done about this?