§ [SECOND READING]
§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE PAYMASTER-GENERAL (LORD STRACHIE)My Lords, this is a Bill to authorise the Treasury to advance a sum not exceeding £2,200,000 for the purpose of the acquisition of share or loan capital of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, Limited. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2ª.—(Lord Strachie.)
462§ *VISCOUNT BRYCEMy Lords, I do not rise to discuss this Bill to-day. But if it had come before your Lordships' House a month ago I should have felt bound to call attention to the very large and grave questions of Imperial policy, and more particularly of Indian policy, which the Bill raises, and to ask His Majesty's Government for an explanation of their views. It is not possible to do so now, because we could not have full and free discussion on those issues without touching upon matters to which, for reasons which will occur to all of your Lordships, it would not be desirable at this moment to refer. I feel bound, therefore, to abstain from any discussion. But I have said these words only lest it should be supposed that many of us in this House, without distinction of Party, are insensible to those very large and grave issues to which I have referred, and which do not seem, if I may venture to say so with respect, to have received quite adequate debate in the other House of Parliament.
§ On Question, Bill read 2ª.
§ Committee negatived: Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Bill read 3ª, and passed.