Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING (Prime Minister):

I lay on the table of the House copy of Order in Council requested by my right hon. friend (Mr. Meighen) yesterday, authorizing the Minister of Marine and Fisheries to undertake the administration of the fisheries in the tidal and navigable waters of Quebec that are accessible by way of navigation from the sea.

Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING (Prime Minister):

I lay on the table of the House a copy of "Proceedings of the Conference of Prime Ministers and Representatives of the United Kingdom, the Dominions, and India, held in June, July and August, 1921-Summary of Proceedings and Documents." This is a copy of the report of the Conference of Prime Ministers which was laid on the table of the House in Great Britain. I may say that a little over a month ago I communicated with the authorities in England asking for a number of copies of this printed document in order that each member of the House might have a copy for his own perusal. I am informed that these documents were shipped from England about the twenty-fourth of last month, so they may be here at any time. The Under-Secretary of State will see that each member is supplied with a copy as soon as they are received.

My right hon. friend yesterday, referring to the proceedings of this Conference, stated that certain of them were secret and asked me to communicate with the Prime Minister of Great Britain in order

Armaments

to find out what part, if any, of the secret proceedings he would be at liberty to disclose. A good deal has been said by my right hon. friend in regard to the equality of status of the different countries comprising the British Empire. I would say that I see no necessity for our asking Great Britain what we may do in reference to any conference of Prime Ministers. As I look at the proceedings I find that representatives of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India were present, and I should think there would be quite as much reason for communicating with Australia and South Africa as with Great Britain in regard to what part of the proceedings should be made public in this Parliament. There is equal reason also to ask the Government of this country what its view is as to the proceedings and what action should be taken with respect to regarding any part of them as private. I may say to my right hon. friend that this is a public document and that he or any other hon. member of this House is at liberty to quote any part of it. In regard to any proceedings that were secret, I have no doubt that my right hon. friend was a party to any arrangement that was made as to the secrecy of the proceedings and he must use his own judgment as to what he will disclose or withhold in regard to that part of the Conference.

Right Hon. ARTHUR MEIGHEN (Leader of the Opposition) :

Mr. Speaker, it is true that all parties to the Conference had equal status, but my hon. friend must remember that the Conference was called by the British Government and that the Secretariat has issued the report thereon. It is, therefore, the right of the British Government to say to what extent the part taken by those representatives must be regarded as secret. I have asked my hon. friend to find that out; if he declines, he takes the responsibility.

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

I wish to make my position perfectly clear. I simply take the ground that the Conference of Prime Ministers was a conference of the representatives of different countries, all of which were met on a basis of equality. For that reason I do not propose to return to the colonial status so far as this country is concerned, by asking permission to quote from the report.

Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING (Prime Minister):

I lay on the table of the House

copies of the treaty concluded at the Conference on the Limitation of Armaments held at Washington from November 12, 1921, to February 6, 1922, signed on hehalf of Canada. A report on this conference will be prepared by Right Hon. Sir Robert Borden, who was Canada's representative at the conference, and will be presented to Parliament in due course.

Mr. CRERAR:

May I ask my hon.

friend if those documents will be printed and made available for the information of members of the House?

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

Certainly.

As soon as the report of Sir Robert Borden is received it will be printed. The treaties also will be printed and attached as appendices to the report.

Right Hon. ARTHUR MEIGHEN (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, before the motion carries I find it necessary to make a request similar to the one I made yesterday, because of the impending debate on the Address and because of a reference in the Speech from the Throne. It is this: that there be laid on the table of the House on Monday, if at all possible,-at the earliest possible day, at any rate-a copy of the correspondence that passed between the late Government and the Government of Australia, particularly the Prime Minister of Australia, and between the members of the late Government and myself, with respect to reciprocal trade with Australia. This correspondence commenced about May or June, 1921.