§ 48. Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange for a Debate on the Motion standing in the name of the hon. Member for Westhough-ton relative to the Atlantic Charter, supported by a considerable number of right hon. and hon. Members.
§ [That this House, bearing in mind the specific promises contained in the Atlantic Charter regrets recent statements made on behalf of His Majesty's Government conveying the impression that its provisions do not as a matter of right apply to Germany or any other enemy country, believes that these statements have brought the Charter into disrepute, 395 depressed the spirit of considerable sections of the allied population, stiffened the support of the peoples of enemy countries behind their leaders, are calculated thereby to prolong the war, make the prospects of permanent peace difficult, if not impossible, and therefore urges His Majesty's Government to make it clear that the principles of the Charter are of world-wide application.]
§ The Prime MinisterAlthough this Motion is not sponsored by any organised political Party, it is couched in hostile terms, is supported by 70 Members and wears the aspect of a Vote of Censure. If this interpretation is correct, His Majesty's Government would be willing to afford an opportunity for Debate at a convenient date in the near future. Whether it is correct or not can be ascertained through the usual channels.
§ Mr. Rhys DaviesMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is not aware that there is considerable disquiet, both in this country and America, as the result of the recent Government statements, made by himself and the Foreign Secretary, abandoning a number of the principles of the Atlantic Charter, and does he not think that the honour of our country is involved in this business?
§ The Prime MinisterThat would be a very proper question to urge in the Debate, should one be demanded on a Vote of Censure.
§ Mr. ManderWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that an Amendment to this Motion has been put down by the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton?
§ [In line 2, leave out from "Charter," to end of Motion, and insert "is of opinion that these should be applied in practice universally so far as is consistent with the supreme object of making German aggression impossible in future, including in that connection such proposals as the transfer of East Prussia to Poland on security grounds."]
§ Mr. PetherickIs my right hon. Friend aware that the desire for a Debate is not confined only to the hon. Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Rhys Davies), and those who think as he does, but is also shared by those who maintain that the Atlantic Charter, where it is not platitudinous, contains conditions highly 396 dangerous to the British and Allied cause?
§ The Prime MinisterIt is late in the day to begin these sweeping condemnations of the Atlantic Charter, which, at the time, received a very cordial welcome and was not protested against by the hon. Gentleman—
§ The Prime MinisterI can only say that, if those who put their names to this Motion desire it to be considered as a Vote of Censure, having regard to its terms and having regard to the number of Members concerned, His Majesty's Government would feel it their duty to find the time, on the ground that it is a Vote of Censure. There being no official Party opposing the Government, consequently a sufficient number of private Members, banding themselves together, ought, in my opinion, to have an opportunity of putting their challenge to the test. If, however, it is not a Vote of Censure, then we could not give time, because the Session is already crowded and it would not be convenient, from the point of view of public Business, just to take an ordinary Motion and give it a special part of Parliamentary time. I think it is perfectly plain that the answer I have given is in full harmony with the traditions of the House.
§ Mr. J. J. LawsonMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman to take it that a considerable number of hon. Members on these benches are hostile to that Motion?
§ Mr. SilvermanDoes not the right hon. Gentleman consider that sufficient ambiguity has been introduced into the discussions on the Atlantic Charter by recent events and recent speeches to deserve a Debate by way of clarification of the matter, quite apart from one by way of censure?
§ The Prime MinisterOpportunities for Debates of clarification occur frequently in the regular annual routine of Parliamentary Business, and I think it quite natural that some opportunity should be taken on one of those occasions. But here is a particular Motion condemning the Government in scarifying terms. I want to know if that is to be treated as a Vote of Censure or not. If it is to be treated as a Vote of Censure, His 397 Majesty's Government are entirely at the service of those hon. Members who put it down.
§ Mr. ManderIs it not the case that some of those hon. Members who put their names among the first six are opposed, and have been wholly opposed, to the war from the beginning?