A VITAL QUESTION
Sift,—Miss Irene Ward, M.P., insists in your columns on the need for inquiry into the methods whereby policy has been determined, and for an explanation of how the most important kinds of informa- tion have been misinterpreted or ignored. The present time is not suitable for an attempt to fasten responsibility upon individuals, but it may be useful to put forward now a positive suggestion by which a repetition of disastrous mistakes may be avoided.
There is a strong case for setting up a Foreign Relations Com- mittee of the House of Commons. Parliamentary control over foreign policy is at present slight, largely because Members of Parliament normally have no more knowledge of the daily conduct of foreign affairs than the general public can have. Indeed, it can be shown by many examples that most important negotiations have been brought to a concluslon under Ministerial authority, and their results presented as accomplished facts to Parliament, which has had no means of following or influencing the course of affairs.
It is understood that diplomacy must often be a secret business. But a way must be found of reconciling secrecy with a measure of democratic control of proceedings which are literally matters of life and death for the people of our country. Mr. Harold Nicolson has pointed out that the main principles of foreign policy are within the grasp of all intelligent people. That grasp would be more widely achieved if a proportion of our representatives, as members of a Foreign Relations Committee, were able to infuse more reality and wisdom into debates on foreign affairs, which they could do, of course, without betraying confidences. On the other hand, such a body of well-informed Members would be able to bring Parliamentary opinion to bear on the Foreign Office in a way which is impossible now, occept ptrbaps after the event. Without some reform of this kind, democratic control of this all- important branch of affairs will remain weak, spasmodic, and perhaps illusory, for there will be an ill-informed public opinion and an omnipotent Executive. Parliament will be an ineffective guardian of the public interest, because deprived of knowledge and responsi- bility. The institution of a Foreign Relations Committee would go far towards ensuring the supervision which the Foreign Office, no less than other executive departments, requires, and creating in the country, through Parliament and the Press, that sounder understanding of problems of policy without which strengthened control would be
dangerous.—Yours faithfully, J. W. HUNT. Lord's Farm, Sheet, Peters field, Hants.
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