HC Deb 28 June 1948 vol 452 cc1831-3
47. Mr. Edgar Granville

asked the Prime Minister if he will now make a further statement on the suggested conference of Dominion Prime Ministers this year.

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir. I have for some time been in correspondence with my fellow Prime Ministers with a view to arranging an early discussion between us in London on broad general questions of common concern. As I have explained to the House before, there is a standing difficulty in finding a time at which all the Prime Ministers, with their heavy domestic responsibilities, are able to leave home. For this reason, it has not been possible to arrange a meeting, as I had hoped to, during the summer

Mr. Keeling

Would the Minister like to correct the statement made by the Parliamentary Secretary a fortnight ago that the franc has been devalued by only 10 per cent., the true figure being 45 per cent.?

Mr. Strachey

I have not seen my hon. Friend's statement, but the effect of the devaluation of the franc on f.o.b. prices for champagne and brandy is a reduction of about 10 per cent.

Following is the information:

months. But I am glad to tell the hon. Member that I have found sufficient common ground to enable me to suggest that we should meet in October. The final replies to this suggestion have not all come in, but I have every reason to hope that a meeting can then take place.

I should add that the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. Chifley, had already expressed the desire to pay a short visit to London in July for discussions with His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. I warmly welcomed this proposal and I am glad to say that Mr. Chifley has now definitely arranged to visit us then.

Mr. Granville

May I ask the Prime Minister if these discussions will cover the wider interpretation of the Statute of Westminster, particularly in relation to India's future, and will the discussions also cover the question of Commonwealth consultative machinery at policy-making level?

The Prime Minister

I could not make a statement on exactly what will be the extent of these discussions. Obviously, it is a matter which I have to discuss with the other Prime Ministers.

Mr. Chamberlain

Will my right hon. Friend arrange that our oldest Dominion, Newfoundland, will be represented, in spite of the transitional state of affairs there at the present moment?

The Prime Minister

I think that is obviously quite impossible at the moment. My hon. Friend will realise that, at this very moment, they are engaged in a plebiscite for the future Government of that country.

Mr. Chamberlain

If they finalise that arrangement, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the fact that they are our oldest Dominion?

The Prime Minister

That hardly arises.

Air-Commodore Harvey

In arranging these meetings, has the Prime Minister made it clear to the other Prime Ministers that he is quite prepared that the discussions should take place elsewhere in the Empire?

The Prime Minister

Certainly; that is always understood.