§ 50. Mr. Llewellynasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the newly-elected Lord Mayor of Cardiff in his inaugural speech repeated Cardiff's claim to be recognised as the capital of Wales; that the Chairman of the Welsh Advisory Council on the same day endorsed that view in his private capacity: and whether he will now seek the opinion of the Welsh Advisory Council on this matter.
§ The Prime MinisterMy attention has been drawn to the inaugural speech of the Lord Mayor of Cardiff, and I notice that, while Alderman Williams repeated Cardiff's claim to be recognised as the capital of Wales, he clearly admitted that other cities also put forward this claim. I am not aware of any views which the Chairman of the Welsh Advisory Council may have expressed in his private capacity, nor do I think it right that in a matter of this kind I should be asked to take into account privately expressed views. I do not propose to seek the opinion of the Welsh Advisory Council on this matter for the reasons explained in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, West (Mr. G. Thomas) on 18th April.
§ Mr. LlewellynWill the Prime Minister say on what principle Wales should be a country without a capital?
§ The Prime MinisterThere is no question of principle. I understand that there is some dissension among the Welsh people as to what should be the capital
§ Mr. George ThomasIn view of the obvious disagreement in various places on this question, would not the Prime Minister allow the Welsh people to settle it themselves by referring it to this Council?
§ The Prime MinisterThat point, I notice, was made by the Lord Mayor of Cardiff. He thought that it was a domestic matter. He said:
I think we should take the responsibility ourselves,—which is a very good idea.