Oral Answers to Questions — League of Nations. – in the House of Commons at on 18 October 1939.
Sir Geoffrey Mander
, Wolverhampton East
asked the Prime Minister the reasons why the British Government has notified the League of Nations that it will not consider its adherence to the Optional Clause of the Statute of the Permanent Court of International Justice as applicable to disputes arising out of the present war; and whether he will publish the terms of the Note?
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
The Note referred to by the hon. Member has been laid as Command Paper 6108. It contains a full account of the reasons why His Majesty's Government will not regard their acceptance of the Optional Clause of the Statute of the Permanent Court of International Justice as covering disputes arising out of events occurring during the present hostilities.
Sir Geoffrey Mander
, Wolverhampton East
Is it not very important that we should make it clear that we are always prepared to accept third party judgment, and not to lay ourselves open to the charge of unilateral denunciation of the treaty?
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
If the hon. Member will examine the Note referred to, he will see the reason which prompted His Majesty's Government to take this course, in view of certain undisputed facts.
Mr Philip Noel-Baker
, Derby
Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether His Majesty's Government have received any comments from neutral countries on this matter?
Mr R.A. Butler
, Saffron Walden
I should be glad to answer the hon. Member if he would put a question down.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
