§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Prime Minister whether the reasons given by certain Irishmen for declining to act on the Financial Relations Committee were that it was appointed for the sole benefit of the Cabinet, that its ex parte character made their agreement with it impossible, and that its secret character precluded the publication of their reasons for disagreeing; and if he will say how many Irishmen declined on these grounds to act on the Committee, and how many declined on other grounds?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)I must ask the hon. Member to put these questions to the Chief Secretary, as the matter is one in which I have no direct concern. As a matter of courtesy, how- 2133 ever, I may say that I have nothing to add to the answers already given to the hon. Member on this matter.
§ Mr. GINNELLWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether all the gentlemen who were asked to serve on the Committee were informed in advance of its secret character, and of the fact that only one of the two countries concerned was to be represented on the Committee?