§ Mr. Manderasked the Prime Minister whether he will make arrangements to provide time for a discussion on the 949W Motion standing in the name of the hon. Member for East Wolverhampton on the subject of the establishment of a Joint Allied Council?
[That this House is of opinion that the time has come for the formation of a Joint Allied Council, consisting of representatives of the British Empire and the countries actively associated with it in the conduct of the war, for the consideration of problems of mutual interest and as a symbol of the international character of the present struggle for the preservation of civilisation.]
§ Mr. AttleeI would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which were given to his previous Questions on this subject on 6th August and 13th August. As was then explained, in view of the presence in London of the various Allied Governments and organisations, the closest collaboration is already maintained between them and His Majesty's Government. The existing methods for co-operation and consultation are fully adequate to deal with all questions of common interest which arise. His Majesty's Government therefore see no advantage at the present juncture in devising additional machinery of the nature suggested. They consider it preferable to allow the methods of inter-Allied co-operation to develop naturally to meet current needs, rather than to impose some purely formal machinery upon an already flourishing growth. In these circumstances it would not seem necessary to provide time for discussion of the Motion.