§ MR. J. M'CARTHY (Londonderry)I wish to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, with reference to the Resolution which stands in the right hon. Gentleman's name on the Paper, whether it is the intention of the Government to force to a conclusion to-night the important Debate on the Motion of the right hon. Member for Newcastle (Mr. J. Morley)? There is no desire to protract the Debate unduly; but I wish to know, in case it should become apparent that a great number of Irish Members wish to take part in it, whether the Government really intend to crush the discussion into one night, and to carry it on into an hour when there will be no chance of the speeches being adequately reported?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH, Strand, Westminster)The course which I propose to adopt was decided on after an endeavour had been made to ascertain the general feeling on both sides of the House. I have been informed, from sources on which I rely, and on which I think hon. Members opposite rely also, that it is the desire of the House that the Debate should conclude to-night, and that it would be convenient to adopt the Motion I have placed upon the Paper. I should be exceedingly sorry to be supposed capable of crushing Debate. To do that is far from being my wish. I trust that the understanding which has been come to with regard to the termination of the Debate will be observed, as it will tend greatly to the convenience of hon. Members who have been summoned from different parts of the Kingdom, including Ireland, to take part in the Division to-night.
§ MR. SEXTONThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered the question put to him. My hon. Friend the Member for Derry (Mr. J. M'Carthy) wants a more definite answer. He wants to know whether, if the Motion of the First Lord of the Treasury is carried, the Government will insist upon closing the Debate to-night? Upon the reply given to that question depends the attitude of many Members towards the right hon. Gentleman's Motion.
§ No answer having been given,
§ MR. SEXTONrepeated the question. I wish to know, he said, whether, if the right hon. Gentleman's Motion is adopted, the Government intend in all circumstances to force the Debate to a conclusion to-night; or whether, if at a reasonable time after midnight there should appear to be a desire to continue the Debate, they will agree to adjourn it?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHIt would be exceedingly inconvenient to depart from the understanding that has been arrived at. It is the duty of the Government, and in a measure the duty of the Opposition, also, to arrange a Debate with reference to the convenience of hon. Members on both sides of the House; and unless an understanding, such as has been arrived at in the present case, were fairly observed—I do not ask more than that—the difficulties of conducting business in this House would be enormously increased. It will be the duty of the Chief Secretary to reply on the whole Debate, and if the discussion is protracted beyond to-night, when would the right hon. Gentleman be able to reply? Until his reply is delivered the Debate will be left in an unsatisfactory state. The understanding that has been arrived at has been mentioned more than once with a view to give full notice of it to all hon. Members, and arrangements have been made to secure the attendance of hon. Members from all parts of the country. I think it would hardly further the interests which the hon. Member has at heart to prolong the Debate beyond tonight.