Right Hon. C. D. HOWE (Minister of Reconstruction and Supply) :

I desire to lay on the table copies of an exchange of notes between the governments of Canada and the United States regarding the modification of the Canada-United States air transport agreement of 1945.

Mr. GORDON GRAYDON (Peel):

I should like to ask a question of the Secretary of State for External Affairs. In view of the fact

[The Deputy Chairman.]

that the council of foreign ministers at Moscow are about to abandon their present proceedings, perhaps,, as reports indicate, to meet again in London in the summer, can the minister indicate whether there is any change in the Russian opposition to Canada's fuller participation in the peace settlements, and what are the prospects of Canada's playing a larger part at future meetings of the kind?

Right Hon. L. S. ST. LAURENT (Secretary of State for External Affairs): There has been nothing determined yet by the council of foreign ministers as to what will be the participation of the other allies in the preparation of the peace settlements for Germany and Austria. There has been some indication of willingness to have the belligerent allies, and even those who merely declared war against Germany, associated in some manner with the preparation of these settlements. The extent to which the Russian foreign minister or his deputy has been willing to go in the meetings has not yet been regarded as satisfactory by the others attending the meetings and for that reason no agreement has been reached. There is the prospect of Canada and the other belligerent allies, even the others who took no active part in the fighting but who declared war against the axis powers, being associated in some degree in the work to be done. But that degree has not been regarded by the other three foreign ministers as sufficient to justify them in accepting it.

Mr. ALISTAIR STEWART (Winnipeg North):

Mr. Speaker, I should like to address a question to the Secretary of State for External Affairs. The appointment of a select committee to consider the question of human rights and fundamental freedoms is forecast in the speech from the throne. Can the right lion, gentleman inform the house when this committee is likely to be appointed and start functioning?

Right Hon. L. S. ST. LAURENT (Secretary of State for External Affairs): The notice of motion for the setting up of this committee, together with the terms of reference, has been ready since quite some time ago but has been withheld only because it was felt that that motion would be the occasion of lengthy debate in the house and that it would not be proper to ask the house

Inquiries oj the Ministry

to take up that time before we have disposed of the emergency legislation. The notice of motion is ready and will be placed on the order paper just as soon as it appears that it may be dealt with without interfering with the work of the house on the emergency legislation.

Mr. CLARENCE GILLIS (Cape Breton South):

Mr. Speaker, may I be permitted to ask a question of the Minister of Labour? It arises out of a telegram I received from the president of the United Mine Workers of America in Nova Scotia. Has the minister been advised that 1,600 coal miners and their families are prepared to go to central Canada to take other employment if suitable arrangements can be made? If the minister has received that information, does his department contemplate taking any action with respect to it?

Hon. HUMPHREY MITCHELL (Minister of Labour):

I have not only received the wire but I have replied to it. The wire I received read as follows:

Phalen Local in regular session today prepared to transfer 1,600 men and their families to central in accordance with proposition-

What proposition I do not know.

Mr. KNOWLES:

The one you made in the house.