§ Mr. M'CURDYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any alliance exists between the United States of America and Great Britain for cooperation in the present War; whether the alliance now existing between Great Britain and any of the Allies is by its terms operative after the successful termination of this War; whether any conference has taken place, or any agreement has been arrived at, between Great Britain and the United States of America, or between Great Britain and any of the Allies, as to the desirability of forming a League of Nations, by way of security against future wars, before the present Alliance is dissolved; and whether His Majesty's Government have considered, or will consider, the advisability of now making a permanent covenant of peace with the United States of America, and the nations now allied against Germany, for the purpose of establishing and disestablishing war as a means of settling disputes between Great Britain, the United States of America, and the Allied nations, and for the purpose of obtaining the adherence so soon as practicable of all other nations to such league, and for the purpose of mutual disarmament so soon as, and to 1370W such extent as, the adherence of other nations renders disarmament safe and practicable?
§ Lord R. CECILThe reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, only the alliances with Japan and Portugal, which existed before the War, remain operative. As to the last two parts of the question, I may say that His Majesty's Government are in complete accord with President Wilson in his desire for the formation of a League of Nations to prevent war in future, but they are of opinion that the present moment is not opportune for discussions of the kind suggested by the hon. Member. It is rather the duty of the Allies to concentrate all their energies on bringing the War to a successful conclusion, and to leave such questions for settlement later.