§ Mr. Ellis Smith (Stoke-on-Trent, South)I desire to ask your permission, Mr. Speaker, to move the Adjournment of the House in order to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the proposed Japanese Peace Treaty to be concluded this week, in view of the Foreign Office statement that no economic clauses will be included, and the urgent need for an assurance that the position of the cotton, pottery and other industries will be safeguarded under any agreement that is made.
I know that I am not allowed to debate this matter, but I just want to explain the position briefly and to place before you points for your consideration in deciding whether or not this is a definite matter of urgent public importance. Press statements have been made to the following effect: first, that working parties have been set up; secondly, that it is expected that the basis of an agreement will be reached this week; and thirdly, that no economic clauses will be included in the proposed draft. If that is so, after 20 years in which Britain, concerned at 1020 the menace of Japanese standards to British standards—
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman cannot make a speech when asking for leave to move the Adjournment of the House. He has asked leave to move the Adjournment, and he really cannot say any more, having asked for that leave. I am afraid I must tell him also that the Japanese Treaty is not a single definite act, but is a continuing matter and it does not come within Standing Order 9 at all. In addition, I may add that we do not discuss peace treaties before they are made. When they are made, then often we are entitled to discuss them, sometimes before they receive signature; but we are not in a position now to discuss the treaty, which is not before us, and I must therefore rule the Motion out of order.
§ Mr. Ellis SmithWith due respect to your Ruling, Mr. Speaker, I was just concluding by saying that, surely, an undertaking should be given to this House that some safeguards will be made before this treaty is agreed to.
§ Mr. SpeakerI do not think the hon. Member appreciated what happened during Question Time today, when there were several Questions about the Japanese Treaty, and my impression was that the Foreign Secretary indicated that it was likely that a statement would be made which, no doubt, we would be able to discuss. I think the hon. Gentleman must leave it at that. He can read HANSARD and find out whether I am correct or not, but he is not entitled to ask for a definite statement from the Government now.