An interesting debate took place in the House of Commons
on Tuesday, when Mr. Arthur Ponsonby, the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, introduced the " Treaty of Peace (Turkey) Bill." The Lausanne Treaty contained a clause which necessitated legislation, and therefore the Government had no alternative but to present it to the House for ratification ; but Mr. Ponsonby, as reported in the Times, took the opportunity to make it clear that it was the Government's considered policy " to lay on the table of the House every treaty when signed for a period of twenty-one days, after which the treaty can be ratified and circulated. In the case of important treaties the Government can take the opportunity of submitting them for discussion. In the case of others, time for discussion can be found if a demand was made through the usual channels. By this means," he said, "secret treaties would be rendered impossible."
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