§ LORD DAVIESMy Lords, I beg to ask the question which I have on the Paper.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government if there is any foundation for statements which have recently appeared in the Press to the effect that arrangements are now being made for the organization of a United Nations Conference in Washington; if the agenda of the Conference is to be restricted to economic questions or will include the discussion of plans for the creation of a post-war international authority; and if they are in a position to make any statement on the subject.]
THE LORD PRIVYSEAL (VISCOUNT CRANBORNE) (Lord Cecil)My Lords, the United States Administration have recently publicly declared their belief that there would be advantages in early discussions between the United Nations in regard to certain post-war arrangements, notably in connexion with food, and generally on methods of achieving freedom from want. No agenda has yet been settled, but there is reason to believe that such discussions would be confined to specifically economic questions. His Majesty's Government welcome this initiative by the United States Government. As the noble Lord will be aware, they have already been in touch with the Dominions and India on post-war financial questions. His Majesty's Government have also held a number of informal meetings with the Allied Governments in England.