HC Deb 27 April 1944 vol 399 cc930-1
46. Sir A. Southby

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that no foreign State will be given a perpetual title to any portion of the British Empire which may, during the course of the war, have been leased to that State as a naval, military or air base.

Mr. Attlee

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said yesterday in reply to a supplementary question by my hon. Friend the Member for North Lambeth (Mr. G. Strauss) arising out of Questions on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Davies) and my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Mr. Creech Jones).

Sir A. Southby

Will the right hon. Gentleman give a categorical undertaking that no British territory anywhere will be either leased or otherwise disposed of, without Parliament being first consulted and the approval of Parliament obtained?

Mr. Attlee

The reply of the Prime Minister yesterday was perfectly specific on that point.

Sir A. Southby

But if the right hon. Gentleman will look at HANSARD he will find that the Prime Minister did not answer that point. The right hon. Gentleman has only to read HANSARD to find that that is so.

Mr. Mander

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that nothing could be more desirable than perpetual co-operation between this country and the United States?

Commander Locker-Lampson

Will Heligoland be added to the British Empire?

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