§ [SECOND READING.]
§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (The Earl of HALSBURY)My Lords, I think my best exposition of this Bill will be to read to your Lordships the only operative clause of it, which is—
It shall be lawful for Her Majesty by proclamation to prohibit the exportation of arms, ammunition, and military and naval stores to 843 any country or place therein named whenever Her Majesty shall judge such prohibition to be expedient in order to prevent such arms, ammunition, military or naval stores being used against Her Majesty's subjects or forces, or against any forces engaged or which may be engaged in military or naval operations in co-operation with Her Majesty's forces.I believe the circumstances of the time are such that there is no one who can read those words without seeing what they are pointed at—the absolute necessity of being able by law to prohibit the exportation of arms, ammunition, military or naval stores, which, though exported from this country, may be used in aid of Her Majesty's enemies. That, my Lords, is the whole scope and object of the Bill, and I am quite sure your Lordships will be glad to give it a Second Reading.
§ Bill read 2a (according to Order), and committed to a Committee of the whole House to-morrrow.