Mr George Balfour: I wish to say a word or two in support of my hon. and gallant Friend. I endorse every word that he has uttered, and could, were it necessary, say a great deal in extension and support of what has fallen from him. I wish, however, to direct my short observations to that part of the Secretary of State's speech in which he laid down the principles upon which a Select Committee of both Houses of...
Mr George Balfour: The purpose of the interruption was to correct the noble Lord when he said that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Epping (Mr. Churchill) brought into being this group, or that he led it. The right hon. Gentleman has been well known to express his views in this House, and when this group was formed, chiefly through the instrumentality of the hon. and gallant Member for Wycombe (Sir A....
Mr George Balfour: On a point of Order. Is the Debate on the whole range of temperance reform?
Mr George Balfour: May I ask the right hon. Gentleman what subject he is talking about?
Mr George Balfour: But you have not mentioned the subject.
Mr George Balfour: What is the definition of an expert in disarmament?
Mr George Balfour: Is my hon. Friend aware that China levied over £20,000,000 on the civil population of Manchuria and spent it in armaments for the purpose of the present war?
Mr George Balfour: I only desire to say a few words in order to put on record in the Journals of this House my very definite opposition to what I regard as a very definite Socialistic Measure. My right hon. Friend, in introducing the Bill, said that it was highly non-contentious, and he traced the history of the matter back to 1921, saying that it was originated with the object of protecting rural amenities....
Mr George Balfour: I fought the Bill in all its stages.
Mr George Balfour: The hon. Gentleman must, allow me, as he has seen fit to attack me. I opposed that Bill all the time from motives of public policy, although it would well have suited my personal interest to support the Bill.
Mr George Balfour: The hon. Gentleman must withdraw that statement, because it is untrue, as is well known to all Members.
Mr George Balfour: All due to Government interference and control?
Mr George Balfour: What happens if these draft agreements are not signed? I think that is a substantial point, and the only point, on which we require some security.
Mr George Balfour: I cannot agree that there is any aspersion on the Dominions on the matter. The fact is that at present it rests upon a draft agreement, and the sole point under discussion is to have words added that until the agreement is signed, the present position shall continue. I think we are entitled to have some such assurance.
Mr George Balfour: The right hon. Gentleman has submitted one of the most extraordinary arguments ever submitted to the House of Commons. To what does it amount? Tasmania objects, Western Australia objects, certain other Colonies object. But we are bound because delegates to an Imperial Conference have among themselves come to a certain agreement. I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he has the slightest evidence...
Mr George Balfour: It is not often that I find myself in agreement with arguments advanced from the opposite benches. I believe that the argument advanced on this occasion is perfectly sound. If we are to allow in, free of duty, goods which are, as in the case of Canada, coming from the United States, I think it is quite futile to assume that we are giving preferential treatment in that case to our Dominion. In...
Mr George Balfour: Will the right hon. Gentleman make sure that the Government is not committed until it has placed the matter before this House and received the assent of this House?
Mr George Balfour: Nonsense!
Mr George Balfour: The hon. Member has made an attack upon the late Chancellor of the Exchequer who is not present in the House and has stated that a certain document contains allegations against statements made by the late Chancellor of the Exchequer. Surely it is only right and proper that the House should be in possession of the details of that document?
Mr George Balfour: Hear, hear