HC Deb 18 April 1944 vol 399 cc27-8
52. Mr. Bellenger

asked the Prime Minister what consultations have taken place between His Majesty's Government and the U.S.A. regarding the nature and extent of the international organisation for the maintenance of peace and prevention of aggression referred to in Mr. Cordell Hull's broadcast of 9th April, 1944.

The Prime Minister

Preliminary exchanges of information on post-war questions are constantly taking place between various members of the 34 United Nations. But I cannot hold out expectations that any agreed statement upon the subject mentioned in my hon. Friend's Question will be made in the near future. It is a topic which will not suffer at all from thought or well-considered discussion.

Mr. Ballenger

In view of Mr. Cordell Hull's statement in his broadcast that we are at a stage when much of the work of formulating plans for the organisation and maintenance of peace has been accomplished, would my right hon. Friend consider it advisable to consult the House and the country, who are interested to know whether those plans conflict with or conform to the Covenant of the League of Nations, which, I take it, is still operative?

The Prime Minister

I think that a great many people agree that Mr. Hull's speech was most helpful in that direction. There is undoubtedly a common building up of thought between Britain and the United States, and we have every intention of keeping other nations informed. I have to be careful to mention that because these matters are all for discussion and will be decided only at the end of the war. The hon. Gentleman perhaps remembers that I referred to this matter myself rather more than a year ago and' gave some indication showing that, so far as the British view is concerned, the great body of work achieved by the League of Nations and embodied in the League of Nations ought not to be lost.

Commander Locker-Lampson

Does the Prime Minister think that England after the war will be a laud flowing with milk and honey?

Mr. Petherick

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind in the course of these conversations that, though agreement for the maintenance of peace between the great Powers, assisted by some of the smaller Powers, is eminently desirable, no attempt should be made to revivify the defunct League of Nations, which failed of its own volition and its own weight?

The Prime Minister

I think that if the League of Nations had been properly backed up things might have been different.