Lords Sitting of 5 May 1955

Preamble
The House met at three of the clock, The LORD CHANCELLOR on the Woolsack.
Prayers

  LORD STRATHCLYDE
  3.4 p.m.
  The Right Honourable Thomas Dunlop Galbraith, having been created Baron Strathclyde, of Barskimming in the County of Ayr—Was (in the usual manner) introduced.
  Viscount Camrose—Sat first in Parliament after the death of his father.

MAIDSTONE CORPORATION BILL [H.L.]
Read 2a.
CHATHAM AND DISTRICT TRACTION BILL [H.L.]
Read 3a, and passed, and sent to the Commons.

TRIBUTES TO THE LATE EARL GOWRIE
3.12 p.m.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (VISCOUNT WOOLTON): My Lords, the sad honour has fallen to me, in the absence of my noble friend the Leader of the House, to pay tribute to the memory of a distinguished Member of this House who has just died, full of honour and of years. No words of mine could adorn the late Lord Gowrie's life. The tale of it reads like a story from a modern chronicle of the Knights of the Round Table. His record as a soldier was one of matchless courage and devotion to duty. He won his Victoria Cross with a deed of spectacular bravery when serving with the Camel Corps in the Sudan at the close of the last century: the record says, for snatching a wounded Egyptian officer away from advancing dervishes and carrying him to safety. It was the first time that a Militia officer had won this coveted decoration. He was three times mentioned in despatches during the same campaign. He served his
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country again during the First World War, both in France and at Gallipoli, and was severely wounded and awarded the D.S.O. and Bar; added to which he was mentioned in despatches no fewer than five times.
After this wonderful career on active service, he was appointed in 1928 to the Governorship of South Australia, where he was held in the highest esteem. When he and Lady Gowrie left for the United Kingdom in 1934 there were quite remarkable demonstrations of the affection in which they had been held. He was at home for only a short time, for a few months afterwards he became Governor of New South Wales; and he was appointed Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1935, in that office presiding over Australia's immense war effort for almost the whole of the Second World War. He left Australia, publicly hailed as a beloved Governor-General. When he relinquished this appointment and returned home, this did not mean retirement, for he then became the Deputy-Constable and Lieutenant-Governor of Windsor Castle. He took much pleasure in welcoming to his very distinguished home there many Australian visitors and friends, and it was very appropriate that in 1948, when he was President of the M.C.C., he welcomed the visiting Australian team and made a presentation to their captain, Don Bradman.
His life story is one to inspire and ennoble the aspirations of young people of
our great Commonwealth which so largely depends upon the devotion and service of men and women of outstanding capacity and unquestionable integrity. Indeed, Lord Gowrie had everything—looks, courage, ability, and the noble simplicity of a Christian gentleman. Success could not spoil such a character. He loved his fellow men; he enjoyed their company; and, quite naturally, they returned it all, and loved him. Above all, he was fortunate in the happiness of his home life, though it was clouded by the death from wounds in action of his eldest and only surviving son in 1942. My Lords, the nation mourns a brave soldier and a shining example to us all of what is meant by a public servant. To his devoted widow, after nearly fifty years of happy partnership, and to his grandson, a boy at Eton,

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who succeeds him, I am sure all your Lordships will wish to send their deepest sympathy.
3.16 p.m.
EARL JOWITT: My Lords, it seems to me fitting that, before this Parliament comes to its end, we should pay tribute to the memory of one of our most beloved Members, and bear witness to the loss we have sustained by his recent death. The military service of the late Lord Gowrie was indeed pre-eminent. Those who served with him can speak of his almost legendary courage, which was such an inspiration to the men he led. But it is not merely, or indeed mainly, as a soldier that we think of him to-day. He went out to Australia in the first place, I believe, as Military Secretary. In due course he became Governor of South Australia. He was appointed Governor of New South Wales, and finally became Governor-General of the Australian Commonwealth. Never was a man more ideally fitted for the rôle he had to play. Australians are, I think, somewhat discriminating people, slow, perhaps, to give their affection; but, when once given, that affection is unswerving and unbounded. So it was in the case of Lord Gowrie. I should doubt if in all her long history Australia ever had a Governor-General more dearly and universally loved.
To what was this success due? He was essentially a modest man, inclined rather to underrate his undoubted abilities; but he was a great diplomat, always willing to listen to other people, always sympathetic to other people's troubles, always doing his utmost to bring them to a happy solution, and always inspiring those with whom he came in contact with his own simple idealism. No one who knew him could doubt for one moment his complete honesty of purpose and his utter unselfishness. His retirement, so long as good health prevailed, was very happy. I had the privilege of seeing him from time to time at his house at Windsor when he was Deputy-Constable of the Castle, and I can bear out what the noble Viscount has said, for I always found it to be a happy meeting place for any Australians who were visiting this country. They were always welcome, and he dearly loved to entertain them. He often told me that he appreciated the honour and
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distinction of being made President of the M.C.C., and this appointment was in itself a striking tribute to the regard and affection which was so universally felt for him. In everything that he did he was most splendidly assisted by his gracious lady, to whom our hearts turn to-day in deep and respectful sympathy.
3.20 p.m.
LORD LAYTON: My Lords, I desire to associate the Liberal Peers with the tributes that have been paid to the distinguished Commonwealth servant whose memory we are honouring this afternoon. I have one, and only one, qualification for the task, and that is that in the winter of 1943–44 I went on an official mission to Australia and was therefore in that country during the closing weeks—I think they may properly be termed the climax—of Lord Gowrie's long and distinguished period of service as Governor-General. It was a heartening experience to see what a hold he had acquired over the hearts and minds of the people of Australia, and to discover the qualities of character, of understanding and of friendliness that had given him so secure a place in their affections.
It was not an easy moment. Australia, like the rest of the Commonwealth, had been fully committed to the war from the outset. Her troops had been sent to fight in distant theatres of war. Her industrial and financial resources were strained to the utmost. Then Japan entered the war, and very quickly Australia's own territory was itself threatened—and, indeed, under fire. The nearest available help was in the United States. General MacArthur was welcomed as a saviour at Melbourne, and after the honeymoon period was over he took up his quarters in Brisbane. In 1943 Australia had to face and resolve at home all the inevitable difficulties of an alliance and the presence of large numbers of troops from another country. These are times that demand wisdom and forbearance.
No man was better fitted for that task than Lord Gowrie, by his personal qualities, by his long tradition in Governorship and by his deep understanding of the people of Australia. By general consent, he did a superb job during those two difficult years in the double task of maintaining the confidence and good will of the American authorities while preserving

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to the full the traditional good relations with the Mother Country. When he left, the Sydney Morning Herald said of him that
"the South Australians who welcomed Lord Gowrie in 1928 as their Governor perceived in him qualities that inspired instant trust and liking, and ultimately came to regard him as the pattern of the King's representatives in the Dominions. Since then their judgment has been endorsed by the people of the whole Commonwealth."
The Melbourne Age said of him:
"Lord Gowrie's name has become a synonym for dignity, distinction and eminent service. In appealing to Parliament for less immersion in Party aims and more thought for the national good, the Governor-General expressed the hopes of countless Australians."
People in foreign countries who admire, and sometimes envy, the stability and poise of the British Commonwealth often ask what is the formula that holds it together. It is difficult to give a short answer, but high among the causes which will ensure, as I believe, its permanent survival I would put great Commonwealth servants like Lord Gowrie, who by their life and work create and foster, under the Crown, confidence and mutual understanding; for that is the cement which holds these scattered people together. There are few more important contributions that a man could make to the well-being of humanity than this.
VISCOUNT SWINTON: My Lords, I should like to add one or two words to the tributes which have been so well and so fittingly paid to Lord Gowrie, a greatly loved Governor-General, a very gallant soldier and a great gentleman. Anyone who has travelled widely in Australia will find that in every State, in town and country, the names of Lord and Lady Gowrie are household words. Lord Gowrie is remembered up and down the whole of that continent, not only as an outstanding Governor-General but as a personal friend. Almost everywhere I went in Australia I met men and women who had been guests of Lord and Lady Gowrie in this country. There must be thousands of Australians who made their pilgrimage to Windsor, and they received always a warm welcome at the Norman Tower. Lord Gowrie's name will be forever green in Australia. At Lord Gowrie's age, in the words which were used by Sir Winston Churchill of another great public servant, "Death comes as a respectful friend";
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but to-day the sympathy of countless friends, both in Australia and here, goes out to Lady Gowrie, the untiring partner with him in all his great career.
LORD GIFFORD: My Lords, I hope your Lordships will allow me to add a few words in tribute to Lord Gowrie, because I had the honour to serve as his A.D.C. during the short period when he was Governor of New South Wales. Never in the whole of my life have I come across a happier household than that of Lord and Lady Gowrie. We on their staff felt that we were indeed part of their family. Whether it was a formal social occasion or one of the rare occasions when a Governor gets a little relaxation, he was always kind and courteous to his staff. I remember particularly many happy afternoons on the golf course with him, and I am proud to say that I was present when he did a hole in one. He had a wonderful sense of humour and so had his dear wife, Lady Gowrie; together they made life very happy in their household. The noble and learned Earl opposite has said that Lord Gowrie was the finest Governor-General that Australia has ever had; and I entirely agree. I am proud to have served him during a short part of his Viceregal career.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTRIAN FEDERAL COUNCIL
3.28 p.m.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR (VISCOUNT KILMUIR): My Lords, your Lordships will remember authorising me to send on behalf of your Lordships' House to the Federal Council of the Austrian Republic a message of congratulations on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the restoration of the Austrian Republic. I have now received a reply from the President of the Federal Council, which I think your Lordships will wish me to read to you.
"MY LORD CHANCELLOR,
"I have the honour to thank you in the name of the Federal Council of the Austrian Republic for the kind message of greetings which you sent to the Austrian Parliament on behalf of the British House of Lords on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the restoration of the Austrian Republic.
"The Austrian Parliament is honoured by the appreciation accorded to its work during the past ten years which you expressed on behalf of the British House of Lords.
"It has been the special endeavour during the past ten years of the Federal Council—as the representatives of the different States comprising our Federal nation—to further the unity of our country in its Parliamentary life. Nothing could therefore be a greater reward to our labour than the ultimate conclusion of a State Treaty bringing with it the restoration of full sovereignty to our democratic State.
"May I therefore assure you, my Lord Chancellor, of the Federal Council's deep satisfaction that your message to us should have expressed the wish that our hopes might soon be fulfilled and that the patience of our Nation might soon gain its reward in the achievement of complete freedom.
"With the expression of my highest esteem,
"I remain, my Lord Chancellor,
HANS RIEMER."

DONCASTER CORPORATION (TROLLEY VEHICLES) PROVISIONAL ORDER BILL
Brought from the Commons; read 1a, to be printed, and referred to the Examiners.
KENT WATER BILL
The Queen's consent signified, and Bill reported from the Select Committee, with Amendments: a special Report made, and to be printed.
LIVERPOOL CORPORATION BILL [H.L.]
Reported, with Amendments.
MERSEY TUNNEL BILL
Returned from the Commons with the Amendments agreed to.
SAINT STEPHEN COLEMAN STREET BILL [H.L.]
Returned from the Commons, agreed to with an Amendment: the said Amendment considered and agreed to.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES (SCOTLAND) BILL
House in Committee (according to Order): Bill reported without amendment.
Then, Standing Order No. 41 having been suspended (pursuant to the Resolution of April 20), Bill read 3a, and passed.

THE PARIS AGREEMENTS
3.33 p.m.
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE MARQUESS OF READING): My Lords, with your Lordships' permission, I should like to make a statement on the occasion of the formal entry into force of the Paris Agreements. Her Majesty's Ambassador at Bonn—and I am happy to say that today we again have an Ambassador in Germany—is to-day depositing the Instruments of Ratification of the documents on the Termination of the Occupation Régime in the Federal Republic of Germany and of the Convention on the Presence of Foreign Forces in the Federal Republic of Germany. Her Majesty's Ambassadors at Brussels and Washington are also depositing to-day the Instruments of Ratification of the Seven-Power Agreements on the Western European Union and the Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty.
As the House knows, it has long been our purpose to see German sovereignty restored and Germany welcomed again as an equal member in the fellowship of the Western democracies. This policy has had its setbacks from time to time, notably when the French Assembly last summer found itself unable to accept the European Defence Community Treaty. Nevertheless, due to the inspiration and determination of my right honourable friend the Prime Minister, a fresh basis was found at the London Conference of last October, and full agreement was reached shortly afterwards in Paris.
My right honourable friend gave in another place on October 25 last year a full account of the effects of these

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Agreements. I wish only to mark the historic character of to-day's events in Bonn, Brussels and Washington. The entry into force of the Paris Agreements allows Germany to reassume the functions of a sovereign State and allows her to take her place as a full member of Western European Union and of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Future generations will, I believe, look back upon this day as a landmark in the history of Europe. The successful and formal conclusion of these negotiations will be greeted with relief and satisfaction by the whole free world. This is the firm base from which we can proceed to the next step. We shall now seek, together with our Allies, early discussions with the Soviet Union on the many outstanding problems which confront us all. We earnestly pray that these discussions may prove fruitful.
EARL JOWITT: My Lords, this is perhaps a good note on which the labours of this Parliament may come to an end. I most certainly welcome the statement which has just been made. It indicates, of course, the culmination of a policy which has been steadily pursued, not only by this Government but by the last Government, who were responsible for the introduction of the N.A.T.O. scheme. We are bringing a free Germany into democratic partnership and we are restoring freedom and independence to the German Federal Republic. The next step must be by equally peaceful means to try to bring about a reunification, so that the reunified Germany may take her place again with the same freedom and the same independence. I particularly welcome the statement of the noble Marquess that the Government are now taking the opportunity of seeking
"early discussions with the Soviet Union on the many outstanding problems which confront us all."
There has been some discussion whether these proposals should proceed from the bottom—that is to say, starting with official talks; then perhaps reaching Foreign Minister level talks, and, finally, reaching talks at the summit—or whether they should proceed the other way round, starting off with the summit, in order to get the sort of spirit and tone which may lead to the working out of the details. I should like to ask whether Her Majesty's Government have in contemplation
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the one or the other. In short: do they contemplate and desire, in collaboration with their Allies, to bring about talks at the summit at the earliest possible moment?
LORD LAYTON: My Lords, I desire to associate myself with the congratulations that this document deserves and has received. On the last day of this Parliament Germany enters into her sovereignty again. It is the end of one chapter, but it is also the beginning of a new one; and it is a new chapter in which we are trying the great experiment of getting Germany associated within the community of Western nations. For my part, I wish only to express the hope that the unity in this country, accompanied finally, but only after long travail, by unity in other countries which has now produced this result, will enable us to start on the next chapter with a similar united outlook, and that we shall not have to go through the long process of reaching agreement that we have had to go through during the last five years. We can take to ourselves great satisfaction that we have reached this point, though at one moment a year ago it seemed as if we should fail. We now need constructive effort both on the military and the economic planes. I hope that the force of this country will be exerted by general agreement and without these issues becoming Party issues.
THE MARQUESS OF READING: My Lords, I am obliged for what the two noble Lords have said. I recognise the point made by the noble and learned Earl, that this was not exclusively the policy of Her Majesty's present Government. I think one of the most satisfactory things about it is that it has been the policy carried on by both Governments in this country over a period of years, and is now brought to a successful conclusion. As regards the question which the noble and learned Earl asked, about the form which these discussions would take, I think the position can most plainly be put in this way. As the noble and learned Earl knows, there are to be within the next few days meetings in Paris of the Foreign Secretaries. All that we are
concerned about at this stage is that the discussions which take place with the Soviet Union shall be of the most effective kind. Whether, after consultations
have taken place between ourselves and our friends

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in Paris, it is felt most advantageous to start with the Foreign Ministers' discussion, and then perhaps proceed to what is called a top-level discussion, or whether any of those steps can be omitted, must, I think, await a final decision after the discussions of the next immediate days have taken place. What we are concerned about is that the discussions, when they take place, shall be in the most effective and most promising form.
EARL JOWITT: My Lords, I can well understand that, but may I press the noble Marquess a little further? Is it the policy of Her Majesty's Government to press for, and to try to get, top-level discussions at the earliest possible moment?
THE MARQUESS OF READING: As I said, it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to get what we decide with our Allies is the most effective form of discussion.
EARL JOWITT: Will the Government propose that form of discussion?
THE MARQUESS OF READING: I think that must wait until my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary and his friends have discussed it. What they decide will no doubt be carried out, but exactly what line my right honourable friend pursues in those discussions must, I think, be left for him to expound to his colleagues at those discussions and is not for me to do so in advance.
House adjourned at nineteen minutes before four o'clock.