Mr. H. O. White (Middlesex East):

I wish to direct a question to the Prime Minister. Has the Prime Minister any report from our delegation at the United Nations to the effect that our Secretary of State for External Affairs could succeed the late Dag Ham-marskjold as secretary general?

Mr. H. O. White (Middlesex East):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to direct a question to the Prime Minister notice of which I have given him. In view of the allegations that United States battleships are moving in preparation to evacuate United States citizens from the Dominican Republic because of possible danger to them, does the Prime Minister wish to comment as to the situation with respect to the safety and welfare of Canadians in that country?

Mr. While (Middlesex East):

On a point of order, I think the hon. member should withdraw the statement that we are a bunch of rubber stamps. It is not true.

Mr. H. O. White (Middlesex East):

Mr. Speaker, I wish to say a word on this motion. The meeting of the external affairs committee is scheduled for one o'clock this afternoon. In the years that I have been chairman I have attempted to meet the requests of the opposition not to sit while the house is sitting, and to try as far as possible to avoid meeting while other committees are meeting. At the inaugural meeting of the committee this year this matter was again mentioned. When I asked for consent of the house to sit while the house was in session the matter was not brought to a vote, but nearly so. When we met a discussion of the hours ensued, and one of the members of the committee suggested that we meet at one o'clock. This is an hour when the house is not in session and when no other committees are meeting with the exception of the restaurant committee.

Today the hon. member for Essex East left the impression that members of the government side were in a sense boycotting the committee.

[Mr. Browne (Vancouver-Kinsgway).l

Mr. White:

As I say, we tried our very best to arrange hours that did not conflict with other committees and with the house. I am sorry to say the opposition by their absence from the committee at the last two meetings have abdicated their responsibility as far as external affairs are concerned. I want to make it perfectly clear that the members of the government were present-they constituted more than a quorum-and took care of the business very well. If opposition members want to abdicate their responsibilities on a very important committee dealing with the external affairs of this country then that is their responsibility and not mine, and I hope no further reference will be made to the boycotting of the committee. The committee meets at one o'clock this afternoon.