§ 2.23 p.m.
§ LORD AMMONMy Lords, I beg to ask a question of which I have given private notice. It is to ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to be in a position 764 to make a further statement with regard to Newfoundland.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DOMINION AFFAIRS (VISCOUNT CRANBORNE) (Lord Cecil):My Lords, when the noble Lord, Lord Ammon, asked me a similar question in the autumn, I said that I hoped to make a further statement about Newfoundland in the near future. At that time it was generally expected that the war with Germany might come to an end at an earlier date than now seems probable, and that we might he in a position not only to establish but to set in motion machinery during 1945 to enable Newfoundlanders to examine the future of the island and to express their considered views as to the form of government they desire having regard to the island's financial and economic condition. The delay in achieving victory in Europe has unhappily affected the position adversely in two ways. First it must inevitably postpone the setting in motion of the machinery for deciding the constitutional future of the island, for that must await the end of the war in Germany; and secondly it equally precludes any immediate attempt to forecast the economic prospects of the island after the war. In view of this new situation, which His Majesty's Government deeply regret, it is clearly necessary to readjust our time-table.
I have always contemplated that the further statement which I had promised to make to Parliament must be a balanced one, that is to say that it should not be confined to matters of machinery but should deal broadly with reconstruction needs, and afford at least a starting point from which Newfoundlanders might be able to arrive at some assessment of their economic prospects in the immediate post-war period. It has been the clearly expressed view of Parliament here, and is I think generally recognized in Newfoundland, that when the Newfoundland people come to pronounce on the constitutional future, much must depend on the degree of confidence with which they will be able to count on the island continuing to be self-supporting in normal peace-time conditions. It would be unfair to expect them to come to a decision on the constitutional issue without full discussion of how they are likely to stand, financially and economically, when present war-time activities cease. Indeed, a clear understanding of their 765 economic future must be, quite evidently, an essential factor in any decisions or discussions by Newfoundlanders as to their constitutional future. But many of the factors of which account will have to be taken by them in reaching any economic or financial assessment of the island's future are still speculative and hypothetical.
I have therefore come to the conclusion that the wiser course would be to recognize the realities of the war situation and to defer the production of detailed proposals until later in the year, when the situation should be clearer. I shall in any case aim at making a statement in good time before the moment comes for the setting up of machinery to enable Newfoundlanders to examine these questions for themselves. Much as His Majesty's Government regret this inevitable postponement, I need hardly say that it will not interfere in the slightest degree with the progress of the Newfoundland Government's reconstruction plans for the immediate postwar period. These are now in an advanced stage and they will go forward in the normal way. The Newfoundland Government have ample funds for financing any schemes with which progress is likely to be possible in the near future. And there will be no question of any such schemes being held up while the Newfoundland people are coming to a decision on the constitutional issue. Indeed, a start has already been made with some schemes, notably those relating to fisheries development, and others are ready to be put into operation as soon as war conditions allow. Nor, of course, will the postponement of His Majesty's Government's detailed statement in any way affect their determination to proceed as early as circumstances permit with the constitutional policy they have already announced.
§ LORD AMMONMy Lords, I cannot conceal that I am keenly disappointed that after so long an interval there is so little tangible result contained in the Minister's answer. I can only ask that we might have an assurance—I am sure it would be appreciated in Newfoundland—that no time will be lost in implementing a scheme as soon as practicable.
VISCOUNT CRANBORNEMy Lords, I can assure the noble Lord that I am as disappointed as he is. I had greatly 766 looked forward to making a further statement and I can certainly give an assurance to him that the object of His Majesty's Government is to proceed with these plans as soon as circumstances permit.