HC Deb 25 October 1944 vol 404 cc141-2
3. Mr. Martin

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an assurance that no final agreement will be made by His Majesty's Government to any measures such as the cession of territory, mass transference of population and similar matters calculated to affect the peace of Europe in years to come without prior consultation with Parliament.

Mr. Law

My hon. Friend may rest assured that in matters of this sort His Majesty's Government will follow the normal constitutional practice. As he is aware, prior consultation with Parliament lies within the discretion of the Executive. His Majesty's Government are of course alive to the desirability of obtaining the support of Parliament and the country for any agreements dealing with such subjects as those mentioned by my hon. Friend.

Mr. Martin

Are we to understand that while the letter of the Constitution will be observed in this matter, the spirit of the Constitution, which surely demands that the House should not be forced to choose between a Government in which it otherwise has confidence, and accepting solutions of serious questions with which it disagrees, will in fact be infringed?

Mr. Law

I think we may safely follow the usual constitutional practice in these matters which has served us very well in the past. His Majesty's Government will, of course, do everything in their power to ensure that in everything they do they have the support of the House of Commons.

Mr. G. Strauss

When considering this matter will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind there is nothing more likely to sow the seeds of future wars than the sense of grievance and bitterness which would be caused by the transfer of millions of people to other lands from lands they have inhabited for generations?

Mr. Law

That consideration will be borne in mind. So will a lot of other considerations also.