BRITISH PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1925, Page 2

BRITISH PARLIAMENT

THE MAKING OF TREATIES. [Reuters Telegrams.j Received this day at 9 a.m.) LONDON, March 12. In the Commons a motion which Air Ronald McNeill (Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs) declared would mischievously hamper an efficient foreign policy, was moved by Mr Trevelyan (Labour) requiring that no international treaty or understanding he concluded without the consent of Parliament. Mr Trevelyan suggested we were reverting to the old conditions of secret diplomacy and unless the Govei nment followed the policy of the Labour Party they would have to transfer the Royal prerogative, in connection with treaties, to Parliament.

.Mr McNeill confessed that he was not moved bv the modification of the Koval prerogative in that connection, lmt Mr Trevelyan was setting about it wrongly. Air .McNeill declared that there were no secret treaties as ATr MacDonald knew, but the motion would delay many extremely beneficial international arrangements which lie would be compelled to table in Parliament within twenty-one days. He pointed out that nowadays we must obtain the consent of the Dominions before entering into international engagements, hence, minor matters have to he three weeks on the tables of every Parliament in the Empire. 'file House of Commons subsequently adopted the amendment stating the present procedure adequately secures Parliamentary control over Foreign Affairs.