HC Deb 14 February 1945 vol 408 cc194-5
4. Mr. Price

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider discussing with other Powers of the United Nations the advisability of extending the function of the European Advisory Commission beyond that of dealing only with armistice terms and conditions.

Mr. Law

There is no such limitation as my hon. Friend suggests on the functions of the European Advisory Commission. These extend to European questions arising as the war develops, which the Government concerned may consider appropriate to refer to it.

Mr. Price

Will my right hon. Friend remember that the Foreign Secretary has said in this House that the Advisory Commission can deal only with the armistice terms and the ending of the war in Europe, and cannot deal with post-war questions? Is it not time that some arrangement was made for dealing with them between the conferences of the Great Powers?

Mr. Law

I was not aware that my right hon. Friend said that in precisely those terms. In fact, other matters besides armistice terms have been referred to the E.A.C. by the Governments concerned. With regard to the latter part of the question, my hon. Friend will have seen the Declaration on liberated Europe which emerged from the Yalta Conference, and he will understand that these matters are very much in the minds of the Governments concerned.