§ 50. Mr. W. O'BRIENasked the Prime-Minister whether he is aware that the recent national conference of the All-for-Ireland League passed a resolution declaring provisions for completing the abolition of landlordism to be the first and indispensable condition of tranquillity or contentment under the Government of Ireland Bill, and leaving their representatives free to take any course they may deem best during the remaining stages of the Bill if the Government fail to give an undertaking to settle the question by a measure of universal and compulsory purchase and sale on just terms either simultaneously or 861 within a brief period to be specified in the Government of Ireland Bill; whether he is aware that Mr. Gladstone in 1891 gave a written undertaking to settle the land question simultaneously with the establishment of Home Rule, or within a limited period thereafter to be specified in the Home Rule Bill, or to commit the power of dealing with it to the local legislature; and whether he is willing to give an undertaking to the same effect?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI understand it is the fact that such a resolution has been passed. I do not know to what written undertaking by Mr. Gladstone the hon. Member refers. The Government are fully alive to the importance of land purchase, as they have shown by retaining it in the Government of Ireland Bill as a reserved service. But I cannot make any further statement on the subject at present.
§ Mr. W. O'BRIENPerhaps the right hon. Gentleman will allow me to ask him whether he has ever read or heard of the written undertaking which was given in 1891 by Mr. Gladstone to the intermediary, the present Lord Morley, which was published at the time and intended to be published:—
It would be obviously inconsistent with the concession of Home Rule to Ireland that the power to deal with the laws relating to land in Ireland should be permanently confined to the Imperial Parliament. It would have to be exercised simultaneously with the establishment of Home Rule or within a limited period thereafter, to be specified in the Home Rule Bill, or the power to deal with it must be committed to the local legislature.Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman what objection there would be to his giving the same undertaking now that Mr. Gladstone gave then?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am obliged to the hon. Gentleman. It is quite news to me that Mr. Gladstone gave any such undertaking. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will kindly furnish me with the terms of it?
§ Mr. W. O'BRIENI will with pleasure. With reference to the right hon. Gentleman's reply, might I ask if it is not a fact that under the Bill as it stands there is no power to end the land war in Ireland for at least fifty years, either through the Irish Parliament or through the Imperial Parliament, and whether he can suggest any form in which this great question can be discussed in Committee on the Government of Ireland Bill?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWith regard to the first question, the Imperial Parlia- 862 ment retains untrammelled power to deal with the question as one of the reserved services, and any proposal made by any Government would be open to the Imperial Parliament to consider. With regard to the discussion of the matter in Committee, I think the question whether this should, or should not, be a reserved service will give an opportunity for its discussion.