§ MR. CALLANasked leave to postpone the following Questions, which stood in his name on the Notice Paper:—
"To ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether his attention has been called to the telegraphic Despatch in the "Times" of April 22nd, under date:—
§ 'Ottawa, April 20th.
§ 'In to-day's sitting of the Dominion of the House of Commons, Mr. Cortigan, a Conservative, moved that an Address should he presented to the Queen, praying that a form of Self-Government should be granted to Ireland similar to that enjoyed by Canada, and that clemency should be extended to the political prisoners in Ireland. Mr. Blake, the leader of the Opposition, made a powerful speech in favour of Home Rule for Ireland. Sir John Macdonald, the Premier, also supported the Resolution proposed by Mr. Cortigan, which was unanimously adopted. Sir John Macdonald stated that he would see that the necessary steps were taken to have the Address prepared, in order that it might be sent to the Senate for concurrence;'
§ whether he will have any objection to direct that a Copy of the said Address he laid upon the Table of the House; and, whether he purposes taking any action in the matter?"
MR. GLADSTONEI think that when such a Question relating to a public body has been for some time on the Paper it is necessary that it should be answered as soon as possible, and I propose to answer, at any rate, so much of the Question as is before us.
§ MR. CALLANI wish to make an addition to the Question, and to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that since my Notice was first given the Canadian Senate, or Upper House, has confirmed the Resolution?
MR. GLADSTONENo, Sir; I am not aware that the Senate had concurred in the proceedings of the Assembly. The Address has not been transmitted to us in the regular manner. We are cognizant of the Resolution having been passed and of its contents, but only by telegraphic report. We cannot present it to the House, because we are not in possession of the document. With regard to the substance of the Resolution, the hon. Gentleman has called upon me to enter upon a matter which is fitter for debate than a mere reply to a Question; but, of course, I may observe that although, no doubt, the Assembly of Canada desired to assist our deliberations, the question referred to in the Address appertains exclusively to the Imperial Parliament and the Imperial Government; and I may add that so much of the subject-matter as touches the discretion of the Executive Government—for this is part of the subject-matter—had our close and constant attention before the intimation of the wish expressed in the Address, either from that quarter or any other quarter, had reached us in the shape of any suggestion.
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether Sir John Macdonald, the Premier of Canada, is not a Member of the Privy Council; and whether, as such, he is not responsible for any advice he may tender to the Crown?
MR. GLADSTONEPerhaps that is a Question, Sir, on which, I think, before answering it, I ought to take the advice of the Law Officers of the Crown; but as my own impression is undoubtedly that although a gentleman becomes a Minister of Canada, and, as such, is responsible only to the Canadian Parliament, yet directly he becomes a Member of the British Privy Council, unquestionably he must come under every responsibility in exactly the same degree as any other Member of the Privy Council.