§ Mr. BONAR LAWMay I ask what business will be taken after eleven o'clock to-night?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Money Resolution of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company Agreement, and the remaining stages of the Osborne Estate Bill.
Perhaps I may inform the House that' in consequence of the circumstances which have arisen with regard to which the hon. Member opposite (Mr. John Redmond) has already submitted a proposal to call the attention of the House to them, we feel that it is impossible to ask the House to take the Second Reading of the Amending Bill to-morrow, but I will make a definite statement to-morrow as to the day on which it will be taken.
To-morrow we shall take the Colonial Office and the Board of Education Votes.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWCan the right hon. Gentleman not say why it is not possible to proceed with the Amending Bill to-morrow?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs we all know, there was a meeting of the Irish Members arranged for to-day which was to consider this matter. These unfortunate occurrences which have taken place in Dublin naturally have preoccupied their attention, and we do not think it fair to them, or to the rest of the House, to take this Bill to-morrow.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWDoes that answer mean that the policy of the Government must first be directed by the Nationalist party?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe policy of the Government is to secure something in the nature of a settlement, and the circumstances which have arisen have necessarily impeded the attainment of that end.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILMay I ask the Prime Minister whether he does not think these circumstances point to the urgent necessity of proceeding immediately with the Amending Bill; and may I also ask how many men the Government wish to be killed in Ireland before they come to a settlement?