March 21, 1924 (14th Parliament, 3rd Session)

Mr. MACKENZIE KING:

My right hon. friend is always prone to assert his own views as against the views of everyone else. I have given him my understanding of the situation, arrived at after a conference with the British authorities, and the prime ministers of the other dominions in the presence of Lord Curzon who as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presided; at a subsidiary conference of the Imperial Conference held expressly for the purpose of considering these very matters. As I have intimated, when the matter was discussed, the conference had the benefit of advice from the legal adviser to the Foreign Office, Sir C. J. B. Hurst, who is perhaps the greatest authority on international law in the world. I believe I have accurately stated the position; it is certainly the basis upon which this government is proceeding.