HC Deb 27 March 1945 vol 409 cc1311-2
51. Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Prime Minister if he will give an assurance that the House of Commons will be informed as soon as any proposals for laying down their arms are made by the Government of the Reich, and of the nature of such proposals, and that Parliament will have an opportunity of discussing them.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir.

Mr. Davies

In view of the importance of bringing the war to an early close, does my right hon. Friend think it fair that this Parliament should not be told, if and when the Germans are proposing to lay down their arms, and the conditions under which they would be prepared to do that?

The Prime Minister

The hon. Gentleman had better ask his questions one.at a time.

Mr. Davies

The right hon. Gentleman's mind is surely clearer than mine.

The Prime Minister

I cannot remember them all. Would the hon. Gentleman be so good as to let me know the first question?

Mr. Davies

I will, if I may, repeat the two points separately. In view of the importance of bringing the war to an early close, does my right hon. Friend think it is fair that this Parliament should not be told immediately—

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Gentleman is asKinģ about a matter of opinion and not of fact.

The Prime Minister

Such matters, if they arose at any time, would, first of all, enter immediately into the province of inter-Allied discussions. We should not be in a position at all to decide any matters of that kind, except purely military surrender at the front. Anything that touched peace negotiations, and so on, we should immediately communicate to our Russian and American Allies, and the House would have to wait, necessarily, until those discussions had taken place. They all lie in the power of the Crown, which is vested in the Executive.

Mr. Evelyn Walkden

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that one soldier's life is more valuable than a day's talk in Parliament, and that we have got to stop shooting first and talk afterwards?

The Prime Minister

That is very good; I like it very much.

Mr. Woodburn

Has the right hon. Gentleman any news as to when this event is likely to happen?

The Prime Minister

The news is good.