Oral Answers to Questions — China. – in the House of Commons at on 6 February 1929.
Colonel Josiah Wedgwood
, Newcastle-under-Lyme
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs with reference to the question of the freedom of the seas, has any approach been made to him by the American Government in connection with the question of a conference respecting a treaty between the two English-speaking countries guaranteeing immunity of private property from seizure at sea; and will His Majesty's Government consider how far they can meet the American view and put this House in possession of the facts and present position?
Mr Austen Chamberlain
, Birmingham West
The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second part does not therefore arise.
Colonel Josiah Wedgwood
, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Two questions arise out of that answer. In the first place, will the right hon. Gentleman obtain the exact wording of the Reed-Borah-Walsh Amendment carried yesterday in the Senate on the inviolability of private property at sea; and, secondly, do the advantages thought to be gained by insisting on our right of search and seizure outweigh the drawbacks of an armament competition with America and the risk of bringing America in on the opposite side to us in any war or application of sanctions in which we are engaged?
Mr Austen Chamberlain
, Birmingham West
I have no doubt I shall receive in due course, the exact text of the resolution which was carried in the Senate. I rather deprecate the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's second question. I have said that all questions concerning our relations with America and the naval conditions of the two countries are under consideration by His Majesty's Government. When I am in a position to make a statement on the subject, I wall do so; but I cannot make a statement until that inquiry is concluded, and I deprecate tendentious questions of the kind addressed to me by the right hon. and gallant Gentleman.
Colonel Josiah Wedgwood
, Newcastle-under-Lyme
May I ask whether, in the interests of this country, it is not desirable that the Government should make up its mind on this vital question?
Mr Austen Chamberlain
, Birmingham West
Yes, Sir, but if the right hon. and gallant Gentleman has given any study to the question itself, he will know that it raises a great many very important issues which require careful and mature consideration as well as consultation at the proper time with the other Governments of the Empire.
Colonel Josiah Wedgwood
, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Is the policy of this country to be governed entirely by the Admiralty?
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
